Irrigation Associations Research Articles

Efficiency of Irrigation Associations in Gediz Basin, Turkey

This study concerns the determination of the technical efficiency of irrigation associations (IAs) located in the Gediz Basin in Turkey. For this purpose, 10 IAs operating in the Gediz Basin were evaluated with the use of input oriented DEA model which considers two inputs: water volume supplied (m 3 ) and total irrigated area (m 2 ), and one output: the total value of agricultural production (TL). The assurance region approach was used in DEA not only to include the decision makers’ preferences into the analysis, but also to limit the inappropriate input/output weights that may affect the efficiency scores. The IAs were evaluated during the period 2009-2011 to conclude the variation of efficiency over the study years. The results showed that, during the study period there was an increment in the number of efficient irrigation districts from 3 to 6. However, Gediz, Mesir and Salihli Right Bank IAs were not able to increase their low efficiency scores. The possible reasons of inefficiency are investigated, and the target volume of irrigation water and irrigated area ensuring the same agricultural production were determined. It is concluded that in inefficient IAs the same agricultural production revenue can be achieved with approximately 60% less water and irrigated area.

Assessment of the irrigation performance of transferred schemes in Turkey: a case study analysis

AbstractEfforts to increase the amount of irrigation schemes transferred to irrigation associations (IAs) in Turkey have been motivated by the poor performance – in terms of cost recovery, equity, efficiency in operation and maintenance (O&M) and repairs – of many large irrigation schemes by government agencies, namely the State Hydraulic Works (DSI). The objective of this study is to assess the irrigation system performance of transferred irrigation schemes in the DSI Fifth Regional Directorate service area mainly for the year 2003 with benchmarking indicators.According to the findings of the study, relative water supply was recorded as 1.5–8.4 respectively. The financial performance indicators including cost recovery ratio, maintenance expenditure to revenue ratio, operating cost per unit area, total cost per person employed on water delivery, revenue collection performance and service area per personnel were found to be 1.0–10.6%, 0.7–12.5%, US$6.5–53.3 ha−1, US$636.0–7045.9 per person, 78–95%, 67–13 000 ha per person, respectively. As regards productive performance, output per unit command area, output per unit irrigated area, output per unit irrigation supply and output per unit water consumed were determined as US$325.2–2745.1, US$1028.03–5070.9 ha−1, US$0.2–0.7 m−3 and US$0.2–2.6 m−3 respectively. Water quality classes were found to be C3S1 in all schemes. The results of the case study show that following the transfer of irrigation schemes to the user organizations, significant improvements are recorded in irrigation water fee collection rates and financial cost reduction in the systems operated by the IAs. Mixed results are observed in terms of irrigation ratios. While there are improvements in two irrigation schemes, there are evident increases in the water supply ratio in six other irrigation schemes. Management, operation and maintenance (MOM) costs in general and the maintenance costs per se have increased compared to the collected water fees in the case‐study irrigation schemes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experiences of water transfer from the agricultural to the non-agricultural sector in Taiwan

Two type of water transfer have occurred in Taiwan, namely, regular and emergency transfers. According to the prevailing Water Law, water is permitted to transfer among water rights holders whenever they need and agree upon relevant compensation. As for the emergency transfer, in the event of extensive drought, every water user sector will suffer serious water shortages resulting in unavoidable economic losses. The Government should step in to perform emergency water transfer by suspending agricultural water rights a course of action considered to cause smaller losses even when an entire rice crop is abandoned, to minimize overall losses to the national macro economy. This study has examined two typical water transfer cases that were implemented in Taiwan. The first one involved the regular transfer of agricultural water from the Changhwa and Yunlin Irrigation Associations (IAs) to the industrial user Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPC). The second one involved the transfer of agricultural water from the Taoyuan, Shimen and Shinchu IAs to domestic and industrial uses during the period from 2002 to 2006 as an emergency transfer. From the perspective of water transfer options, Taiwanese case studies have demonstrated that an officially recognized marketing oriented water transfer mechanism has yet to be established. However, water transfer is still undertaken whenever necessary. In this respect, regardless of the type of water transfer undertaken, water rights can only be suspended but not terminated. In spite of the types of water transfer, it is inevitable to affect the ecological and environmental functions. Therefore, further investigations with related topics should be broadly taken into account. Ecosystem services of paddy fields have attracted increasing recognition in the monsoon Asian countries. Currently, there is a research program collaborating with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on the impact and influence induced by water transfer with a major concern on the ecosystem services of paddy fields in Taiwan.