Systematic pre-screening of 15 agricultural basins across Türkiye based on stakeholder interviews with irrigation union presidents, agricultural engineers, NGOs, and distributors. Each basin assessed on terrain, water infrastructure, socioeconomic readiness, and adoption potential.
Interactive map showing assessed basins (approximated by province boundaries). Click a region for details. Color indicates priority: green = high, gold = medium, red = low.
Traffic-light assessment across key screening criteria derived from stakeholder interviews. Green = favorable, Yellow = mixed/conditional, Red = unfavorable.
| Basin | Terrain | Water System | Water Stress | Parcel Size | Socioeconomic | Drip Adoption | Tillage Change | Farmer Openness | Gov't Support | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Konya Kapalı | Good | Mixed | High | Med | Low-Med | High | Possible | Open | Used | HIGH |
| Fırat-Dicle (Urfa) | Good | Mixed | High | Fragmented | Low | Growing | With SDI | Mixed | Active | HIGH |
| Fırat-Dicle (Mardin) | Good | Closed | High | Fragmented | Low | Growing | With SDI | Open | Active | HIGH |
| Sakarya | Good | Modern | Moderate | Large | Good | High | Possible | Need proof | Used | HIGH |
| Seyhan (Adana) | Good | Mixed | High | Large | With support | Low | Younger gen | Big farms | Limited | MED-HIGH |
| Ceyhan (K.Maraş) | Good | Not ready | Moderate | Small | 70% unaware | Low | Excessive | Mixed | Used | MEDIUM |
| Susurluk (Bursa) | Good | Open+pumps | Moderate | Small-Med | Good | 80% drip | Already low | Open | Used | MEDIUM |
| Doğu Akdeniz (Mersin) | Mixed | Mixed | High | Large | Declining | Some | After corn hard | Some open | Bad policy | MEDIUM |
| Kızılırmak (Nevşehir) | Good | Rogar | Moderate | Med-Large | Debt | Corn drip | Aware | Some open | Barriers | MEDIUM |
| Gediz (Menderes) | Salty | Open | High | Mixed | Good-Declining | Flood | 30cm max | Conscious | If forced | LOW-MED |
| B. Menderes (Aydın) | Good | Open | High | Very small | Declining | Flood | Traditional | Resistant | Not enough | LOW |
| Akarçay (Afyon) | Flat/crops | Closed | OK | Small | Limited | 90% corn drip | Traditional | Resistant | Self-fund | LOW |
| Küçük Menderes (İzmir) | Good | Mixed | High | Very small | Good | 95% flood | Traditional | Resistant | Strict | LOW |
| Batı Karadeniz (Düzce) | Good | Open | OK | Very small | Good | All flood | Willing | Want SDI | No action | LOW |
| Burdur | Good | Mixed | High | Small | Used to drip | Corn drip | Traditional | Resistant | Used | LOW |
Criteria identified through stakeholder interviews and cross-referenced across all 15 basins for the MCDM analysis in RQ1b.
| Category | Criterion | Rationale from Interviews |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Water stress level | Basins with decreasing dam/groundwater levels have strongest adoption motivation |
| Water | Water system suitability (closed canals) | Open canals are the #1 infrastructure barrier; closed systems enable immediate adoption |
| Water | Water availability for irrigation | Must have enough water to irrigate — risk of full switch to dryland farming eliminates program viability |
| Infrastructure | Consistent energy access | Pressurized systems require electricity; regions with frequent cuts need alternatives |
| Infrastructure | Terrain suitability | Flat to gently sloping terrain preferred; rocky/hilly terrain increases SDI installation costs |
| Farm Structure | Parcel sizes | Larger consolidated parcels reduce per-hectare installation costs and enable mechanization |
| Farm Structure | Prevalence of flood irrigation | Higher flood share = greater potential for emission reduction and carbon credit generation |
| Farm Structure | Crop suitability & rotation | Row crops (corn, cotton) suit drip; forage/cereals require sprinkler; rotation affects system permanence |
| Socioeconomic | Farmer openness & innovativeness | Most-cited criterion (11 sources); pioneer farmers catalyze peer adoption |
| Socioeconomic | Education / awareness level | Regions with low awareness require heavier investment in training and demonstration |
| Socioeconomic | Income levels & economic power | Farmers in economic crisis cannot co-invest; programs must cover more of the cost |
| Socioeconomic | Availability of big farmers | Large operations are early adopters and demonstration sites (9 sources, 10 refs) |
| Socioeconomic | Availability of young farmers | Younger generation more receptive to new practices and technology |
| Environment | Climate stability | Regions with extreme events (freeze, 60°C heat) increase program risk |
| Environment | Crop diversity | Diversified cropping systems reduce program risk from single-crop price collapse |
| Policy | Places with land consolidation | Consolidation eliminates fragmentation barrier; prerequisite in some regions |
| Policy | Government support accessibility | Regions where subsidies/credits are actually accessible amplify program investment |
Click each basin to expand detailed findings from stakeholder interviews. Sorted by priority ranking.
Cooperative irrigates 145,000 ha. Total Konya basin: 609,299 ha. Largest irrigated basin in Central Anatolia.
Cereals, sugar beet, corn, alfalfa, oilseed sunflower, confectionery squash.
No flood irrigation. Corn and sunflower mostly drip. Sugar beet, legumes, cereals on sprinkler.
High problem. Lakes and ponds are drying. Critical water stress driving adoption.
Avg 50 da (cooperative), avg 160 da general. Big farmers 60–250 da, some at 500 da.
Not great income levels but they adopt drip irrigation. Ziraat bank loans used heavily but amounts decreasing.
FAO identifies Konya closed basin as one of two most critical regions. Very low soil carbon = high sequestration potential. Already transitioning to drip. Severe water stress creates strong adoption motivation. Rising fertilizer costs already reducing application rates. Multiple stakeholders recommend this region.
~100,000 ha discussed. DSI managed Şanlıurfa: 471,430 ha. Largest irrigated area under GAP project.
Cotton, corn, cereals, peanut, lentils, potato, alfalfa, strawberry, pepper, watermelon. Diversifying rapidly.
Union in open canal but drip/sprinkler adoption increasing. Closed systems: cotton mostly drip, corn sprinkler. Government mandating drip for 2nd-crop maize.
Have water but declining. Atatürk dam levels getting lower. GAP water supply critical.
5 da to 6,000–10,000 da but fragmented by inheritance. Wide range.
"These practice changes should come automatically." Visible soil erosion under flood motivates change. Topsoil loss documented in GAP region.
FAO identifies Harran Plain (Urfa) as one of two most critical regions alongside Konya. Massive irrigated area with GAP infrastructure. Government already mandating drip. Drip adoption momentum strong. Open/closed canal cost differential documented: 3,000 TL vs 500–600 TL per irrigation event. Flat terrain ideal for SDI.
Total Mardin ~150,000 ha. DSI managed: 12,273 ha. Significant expansion potential.
Corn, wheat, cotton. Double cropping common (wheat + corn in same year).
Less than 5% drip for corn, rest flood/sprinkler. Usually closed canal system. SDI adoption accelerating among pioneer farmers.
Water scarcity. Quality OK. Groundwater dropping: 120m to 240m depth. Electricity costs for pumping are critical.
"Farmers are culturally open to these kinds of projects." Pioneer farmers achieving record yields with SDI. Strong peer demonstration effect already happening.
Critical driver. 90% of well operators are Syrian migrants who may leave. SDI dramatically reduces labor needs.
Strongest adoption momentum of any region. Pioneer farmers already demonstrating SDI success with peer cascading. Closed canal infrastructure largely available. Cultural openness to projects. Extreme economic pressure (inputs rising, prices stagnant) creates urgency. Labor crisis accelerating SDI adoption. Government increasing subsidies to 50–70%.
Union irrigates 20,000 ha. DSI: Eskişehir 120,599 ha, Sakarya 15,706 ha, Ankara 27,309 ha.
Sugar beet, potato, corn, hybrid sunflower seed, cereals, alfalfa.
Highly modern. Mostly drip for corn and sunflower. Sprinkler for sugar beet, potato, cereals. Long history of drip adoption.
Avg 80–100 da, max 400–500 da. Mostly big consolidated parcels.
Educated farmers, using drip irrigation for a long time. Previously adapted from open canal to pressurized on their own initiative.
"Not familiar with emissions at all." But: if they know they will gain economically, "they would till less & use less fertilizer." Cash payments preferred.
Most modern agricultural region assessed. Large parcels, educated farmers, existing drip infrastructure. Sunflower seed producers operate formally with insurance — natural fit for contractual programs. Infrastructure already in place; program can focus on practice optimization rather than irrigation transition. Multiple stakeholders recommend Eskişehir specifically.
Union irrigates 70,000 ha. DSI total Adana: 420,203 ha. Massive area.
Corn 99% gravity/1% drip. Cotton and soybeans 100% gravity. Peanut 18% drip. Fruits/vegetables drip. Very low drip adoption for field crops.
Open canals common but some regions with closed systems. Mixed infrastructure.
Large farms (100–500 da, some 10,000 da). Labor costs driving interest. Water stress increasing (dam levels declining). Young farmers taking over.
No fixed electricity in some areas. Open canal infrastructure limits pressurized adoption. Leader farmers may be difficult to convince due to their different risk profile. Recommendation: "Start with big farmers, emphasize decrease in costs and yield increase."
Union: 9,600 ha. Total Kahramanmaraş: 132,456 ha.
Wheat 90% flood. Corn, cotton, soybeans mostly flood. Only 20% sprinkler/drip total. Peanuts 70–80% drip.
Infrastructure not ready. 70% of farmers not aware/capable. Inherited fragmented lands block subsidy access. Renters use flood. Excessive fertilizer use via tractors/drones.
Implement through intermediary organizations (unions, cooperatives) rather than individual farmers. Focus on places with piped systems already.
Union: 21,333 ha. Bursa DSI: 126,591 ha. Balıkesir DSI: 121,394 ha.
80% drip, 13% sprinkler, 5–7% flood. Open canals but farmers install own pumps/dynamos. EU-standard agriculture.
Already highly adopted drip. Farmers avoid deep tillage due to high groundwater. But excessive synthetic fertilizer use — optimization opportunity. Demonstrate that open-canal regions can still do drip with pump solutions.
Drip already common here — limited additional carbon credit potential from irrigation change. Better suited for fertilizer optimization and tillage programs.
DSI managed: 74,338 ha. Large parcels 100–650 da.
Corn 90% flood. Soybeans/forage flood. Vegetables and citrus drip. High conversion potential for field crops.
Farmers already reduce fertilizer and change tillage perspective when switching to drip. No-till not possible after corn but reduced tillage feasible. "If tillage practices involve economic risk, farmers need insurance."
Income declining. Frost losses. Corn/cotton production decreasing due to low prices. Water uncertainty. Government making "wrong strategies and short-term decisions."
Nevşehir DSI: 12,460 ha. Sivas DSI: 96,402 ha. Yozgat: 53,218 ha. Kayseri DSI: 102,585 ha.
No flood. Potato 85–90% sprinkler. Corn 70–80% drip. Sugar beet sprinkler. Rogar water delivery system. Some regions do SDI for corn/sugar beet but interest limited by cost.
Innovative farmers exist. Farmers becoming aware of deep tillage harm — may accept subsoiling every 3–4 years only. Larger parcels (60–80 da avg, Aksaray 300–400 da).
Farmers in debt, not investing. Significant subsidy access barriers. Well permit restrictions. Sediment in river water requires filtration. Kayseri: interest in SDI low due to high filtration costs.
Union: 23,500 ha. Manisa total: 147,149 ha.
Very salty water and soil. Farmers use flood irrigation specifically to reduce saltiness — drip would concentrate salts. All open canal system. 7 m³/sec water lost. Infrastructure upgrade estimated at $7–8M USD for just one union. Marmara Lake has dried; using Demirköprü dam but insufficient.
Salt water makes drip counterproductive without major infrastructure investment. Farmers are conscious and experienced but the physical constraint of salinity and open canals is structural. Would require closed canal conversion + desalination investment beyond program scope. Viticulture side already uses drip.
Very small parcels (avg 10 da Aydın, 3.7 da Karpuzlu). All open canals, no energy infrastructure. Poor water quality with high sediment. 75% of irrigated areas are unsuitable for pressurized systems due to topography or current infrastructure. Farmers attached to traditional methods. "50% subsidy is not enough." Severe drought (50–60% less irrigation than needed).
All closed canals and 90–95% corn already on drip — limited additionality. Small parcels (40–50 da avg). "No opportunities — Sakarya and Konya would be suitable." Culturally attached to traditional tillage. Crops not ideal (wheat/barley dominant, not row-suitable). Farmers self-fund since too small for subsidies.
Corn 95% flood, potato furrow. Very small parcels (avg 10 da, max 40 da). Strict subsidy requirements exclude most farmers. Traditional methods deeply entrenched. "Farmers are unlikely to adopt practice changes." Newly installed smart prepaid meters may shift behavior over time but region not ready for program.
All flood irrigation. Very small parcels (2–10 da). Open canals. Closed system plan since 2016 but no implementation. Government prioritizes industry in Düzce. Interestingly, farmers want SDI and pressure government for it. Rice production growing. Could become medium priority if infrastructure is built. "There should be land consolidation and water canal system change."
Used to drip for corn but cereals/sugar beet/alfalfa on sprinkler (not row-plantable). Pipes need annual replacement; mice/moles destroy multi-year pipes. Attached to traditional tillage. Small parcels (3–120 da). Water levels declining since 2020, losing second-crop capacity. "They would not want to switch from sprinkler to drip."
Basins with partial interviews or secondary data that inform the broader picture.
Fruits/apricot dominant. Mixed open/closed canals. Farmers use motopomp workarounds. Small parcels (10 da avg). "If they know what they will earn, they would avoid deep tillage." Recommends aware regions like Mediterranean/Aegean or Çukurova for cotton.
Pistachio SDI expanding (mandatory due to woodpecker risk). Post-earthquake groundwater decline. "They have to see the benefit with their eyes." Ağa culture in Urfa makes convincing harder. Adıyaman very dry. People in Antep are more educated and open.
Completely closed canal. Most already switched to drip due to droughts. Prepaid electricity model made farmers cautious with water. No deep tillage (max 25–30 cm). Excessive fertilizer only in vegetable production. Limited additionality.
Sugar beet mainly sprinkler, slowly switching to drip. SDI interest low due to high filtration costs. 300–400 da parcels. Farmers in debt. Subsidy access barriers and well permit restrictions.