Water factors for sustainable water management in agriculture:  farmer research in Turkey

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, cilt.18, ss.90-101, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

Water is the non-substitutable product for sustaining economic and social life. Accessible

and usable fresh water resources are very limited in the world. In the development where the available

water resources are decreasing and the conscious use of water is prioritized, the global water problem is

being focused on. Approximately two-thirds of the water is used in agriculture. Differences in agricultural

infrastructure in developed and developing countries cause variability in the amount of water used in

agricultural production. In developing countries, the amount of water used in agriculture is relatively higher.

Investigation of the reasons for this is important in terms of ensuring water use efficiency at sectoral level.

In this study, the factors affecting water use in agriculture were investigated. In the case of developing

agriculture, micro data obtained by face-to-face survey method from 120 farmers in the southern region of

Turkey field study definition were analyzed. According to the results of the research, at the level of water use

in agriculture; Training Programs on Water and Irrigation, Disadvantages of Traditional Irrigation, Reason for

Turning to Modern Irrigation, Agricultural Water Concern, Agricultural Water Quantity, Production Benefit of

Modern Irrigation, Savings in Input Use, Agricultural Irrigation Awareness, Farmer Satisfaction, Sensitivity

to Credit and Grant Support, Agricultural Water Price, Farmer Income and Experience, Government Support

in Modern Irrigation, Willingness for Irrigation Support, Agricultural Irrigation Infrastructure of the region

were determined as policy factors to improve water saving in agriculture.

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