Performance Evaluation of Irrigation Efficiency, Managerial Effectiveness, and Water Economic Productivity in Consolidated Agricultural Lands: A Case Study of the Gündüzler Irrigation Scheme

Harman E., Çakmak B.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE: FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, cilt.14, sa.5, ss.1366-1376, 2026 (TRDizin)

Özet

This study evaluates the performance of the Gündüzler Irrigation Scheme, developed in a fully land-consolidated agricultural area in the Tepebaşı district of Eskişehir Province, with a focus on irrigation efficiency, managerial effectiveness, and the economic productivity of water use. The construction of the piped irrigation system was completed in 2022, and the scheme became operational in 2023 under the institutional management of the Eskişehir Water User Association. Technical and economic data from the 2023 and 2024 irrigation seasons were analyzed to assess the early operational outcomes of the system. The results showed that the irrigation ratio increased from 66% to 92%, while the water supply ratio decreased from 0.55 to 0.40, indicating broader irrigation coverage despite tighter water supply conditions. The irrigated area expanded from 688 to 967 ha, and the Cost Recovery Ratio (CRR) increased from 113% to 298%. Although income per irrigated area declined slightly, income per unit volume of supplied irrigation water improved from 0.41 to 0.53 US$ m⁻³. Managerial performance was also notable, with nearly 1,000 ha irrigated per staff member in 2024. Although the study does not provide a direct before-and-after comparison of irrigation performance attributable solely to land consolidation, background data indicate substantial improvements in parcel structure, average parcel size, and road accessibility following land consolidation. These improvements created favorable structural conditions for the implementation of a piped irrigation system. Overall, the findings suggest that land consolidation, when completed prior to irrigation infrastructure development, can play an enabling role in supporting efficient water distribution, reducing conveyance losses, and improving system-wide coordination. The Gündüzler case provides a useful reference for future irrigation investments in semi-arid agricultural regions facing water scarcity and operational constraints.

Keywords:

Water user association (WUA)

Piped irrigation system

Water resources management

Irrigation management

Irrigation performance analysis