Effects of Irrigation Investment of Erzurum Daphan Plain on Agricultural Production

In this study, current situation in terms of irrigation management in irrigation field of Daphan Plain was investigated and effect of irrigation investment on the field was tried to be revealed. In the evaluations made for this purpose, main material of the study was data obtained from State Hydraulic Works and Daphan Irrigation Association. Together with irrigation investment made in Daphan Plain, an important agricultural development thrust has started. An area of 18.748 ha in total has been transformed from dry conditions to irrigated conditions. However, irrigation rates, which are one of indicators for efficiency of water use in the agriculture, have remained significantly below the expected level. Within the period between 2000 and 2013 in Daphan Plain, the average irrigation rate calculated on the irrigated area increased from 16.4% to 33.2% increased by approximately two–fold. Along with irrigation in Daphan Plain, effect of irrigation on planted areas has been revealed. With transition from dry farming to irrigated farming, grains cultivated in dry lands have been abandoned and forage crops have been concentrated. In case of failure of implementation of Daphan Project; according to data of 2013, total net revenue of currently irrigated areas was 2.693.132 TL and as a result of the project, annual total net revenue has risen to 11.071.578 TL. Low irrigation rates in the project indicate a problem regarding adoption of the project and participation and it has been observed that expected effects in farmers participating in the project have appeared.