Irrigation Systems Transformation in Cotton Production in the Harran District, Turkey: Implications of an Agent-Based Model

YENİ O. , Yener-Gok Z., TEOMAN Ö.

SOSYOEKONOMI, vol.28, no.45, pp.265-279, 2020 (Journal Indexed in ESCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 28 Issue: 45
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.17233/sosyoekonomi.2020.03.15
  • Title of Journal : SOSYOEKONOMI
  • Page Numbers: pp.265-279

Abstract

Agricultural water use for irrigation in Turkey is higher than OECD averages. The main reason for this is the widespread use of surface irrigation methods. Since Turkey is not a water-rich country, high agricultural water use can be considered as a serious sustainability problem. Cotton, as an industrial crop, keeps its importance in Turkey in terms of its added value and foreign exchange inflow it provides directly and indirectly. This study scrutinizes the transformation of existing irrigation systems in Harran district by employing an agent-based model and also calculates the amount of area-based irrigation support required to ensure this transformation.