Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing irrigation performance in the Gediz River Basin of Turkey: water user associations versus cooperatives

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Irrigation Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the performance between Water User Associations (WUAs) and cooperatives in the Gediz River Basin in Turkey by applying a set of external comparative performance indicators. The indicators allow for the comparison of irrigation performance between the two organisations. Benchmarking indicators were used to best evaluate the differences, achievements and failures. The indicators included fee collection rate, cost recovery, general meeting attendance, irrigation and personnel intensity. The data was collected over a 7-year period from 1997 to 2003, inclusive. The article clearly shows that, with respect to the selected indicators, both WUAs and cooperatives performed well. Personnel intensity is the one area that both organisations could improve upon. Overall, WUAs function better than cooperatives. The findings and conclusions drawn from this research will be beneficial to managers responsible for policy-making decisions for the future attempts on irrigation management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bekisoglu S (1994) The current situation, operational and management problems of irrigation systems in Turkey. In: Proceedings of the congress on the development of soil and water resources (in Turkish), The State Hydraulic Works, Ankara, Turkey, pp 579–586

  • Bos MG, Murray-Rust HD, Merrey DJ, Johnson HG, Snellen WB (1994) Methodologies for assessing performance of irrigation and drainage management. Irrig Drain Syst 7:231–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bos MG, Burton MA, Molden DJ (2005) Irrigation and drainage performance assessment—practical guidelines. CABI Publishing, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton M, Molden D, Skutsch J (2000) Benchmarking irrigation and drainage system performance position. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaddad FR, Cook ML (2004) Understanding new cooperative models: an ownership-control rights typology. Rev Agric Econ 26–3:348–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ertsen MW (2007) The development of irrigation design schools or how history structures human action. Irrig Drain 56:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isikli E, Yercan M (2005) Agricultural Situation Report for Turkey, MEDFROL Project, Market and Trade Policies for Mediterranean Agriculture: The case of fruits/vegetables and olive-oil, European Sixth FrameWork Program, Unpublished Project report

  • Klozen WH, Restrepo CG (1998) Assessing irrigation performance with comparative indicators: the case of the Alto Rio Lerma irrigation district, Mexico. International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka

    Google Scholar 

  • Molden DJ, Sakthivadivel R, Perry CJ, Fraiture C (1998) Indicators for comparing performance of irrigated agricultural systems. International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson D (2002) Performance indicators for irrigation canal system managers or water user associations. In: Proceedings of 18th congress of international commission on irrigation and drainage. Montreal, Canada

  • Ozcelik A, Tanrıvermis H, Gundogmuş E, Turan A (1999) The development opportunities of methods for water pricing on the base of turning-over process of schemes to water user associations and cooperatives aimed for best irrigation management practices in Turkey (in Turkish with English abstract). Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao PS (1993) Review of selected literature on indicators of irrigation performance. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheumann W, ul-Hassan M (2001) Irrigation management transfer: irrigation associations in the Lower Seyhan Plain and the Gediz River Basin(Turkey), Germany

  • Svendsen M, Nott G (1999) Irrigation management transfer in Turkey: process and outcomes. EDI participatory irrigation management case studies series. Draft paper

  • Yercan M (2003) Management turning-over and participatory management of irrigation schemes: a case study of the Gediz River Basin in Turkey. Agric Water Manage 62:205–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yercan M, Dorsan F, Ul MA (2004) Comparative analysis of performance criteria in irrigation schemes: a case study of Gediz River basin in Turkey. Agric Water Manage 66:259–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vermillion DL (2000) Guide to monitoring and evaluation of irrigation management transfer. Institute for Irrigation and Drainage, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Vos J (2005) Understanding water delivery performance in a large-scale irrigation system in Peru. Irrig Drain 54:67–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Turkish Cooperative Association. The authors would like to express their special thanks to Turkish Cooperative Association for financial contributions, anonymous referees and to the editor of this Journal for valuable suggestions and comments on an earlier version of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ege University, Bornova, 35100, Izmir, Turkey

    Murat Yercan & Ela Atis

  2. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Ege University, Bornova, 35100, Izmir, Turkey

    H. Ece Salali

Authors
  1. Murat Yercan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ela Atis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Ece Salali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murat Yercan.

Additional information

Communicated by T. Trooien.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yercan, M., Atis, E. & Salali, H.E. Assessing irrigation performance in the Gediz River Basin of Turkey: water user associations versus cooperatives. Irrig Sci 27, 263–270 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-008-0142-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-008-0142-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation