Abstract:

Agricultural irrigation is the largest water user groups in all over the world. There is an increasing pressure on agricultural irrigation for more efficient use of water. The pricing is used as the main tool in regulations for water shortages. To create accurate and acceptable prices are the main purpose for the efficient use of water, and how to ensure that is still controversial. The pricing alone is far from solving this problem. Development of operation and management structure of water user associations, training of farmers about irrigation is also very important. Water pricing methods are sensitive to formation in different ways in all countries and even within different regions of countries. Agricultural water pricing can not be said to have developed enough in Turkey. High and low water pricing has advantages and disadvantages. The farmers who located in Harran plain are agree to have a fee for efficient use of water. In general, farmers consider water fees as normal and acceptable, while who located mainly in the field of pumping irrigation considered that it is high and pay 2.6 times more those who located in gravity irrigation area. The farmers are aware of how irrigation water affects their prosperity and expect that water fees do not exceed their ability to pay. It was stated that they would irrigation, even increased irrigation water fees. The water fee collection time is important for payment. The perceptions and attitudes of farmers towards to water fees are sensitive in different levels in terms of the level of education, age, experience, amount of land and income. This study is a first of its kind for the Harran plain and the GAP region. The results will be guideline for decision-makers in water pricing policies in Turkey and also similiar socio-cultural countries.

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