"Participatory irrigation management" from public irrigation management to local and private irrigation management: The case of Antalya irrigation associations

Participatory Irrigation Management could be seen as the formula of the World Bank to transfer service and investment costs from the state to the producers. In the name of creating a participatory structure in irrigation management, a significant institutional and legal transformation process is experienced in Turkey.The aim of this thesis is to examine the transformation process within the light of institutional reports and legal documents, and to investigate the outcomes for the producers.In order to spot practical problems in implementation, a field study was carried out at Karaman-Duraliler, Aksu Perge, Kırkgöz, Boğaçayı Sağ Sahil Irrigation Associations in Antalya. The data used in the thesis was acquired through observations, interviews with the farmers and documents of the associations and DSİ.The main result and findings of the study show that there are important problems about the transformation process. A truly participatory structure has not been achieved, resources have been inadequate for the services, and the financial burdens of the producers have become deeper. Thus it is suggested that a reconsideration of irrigation services within the principals of public good is strongly needed.