Potential effects of irrigation investments on production patterns and profitability of enterprises; the case of Zile district

The increasing food demand due to population growth and the limited availability of agricultural land necessitate an increase in productivity per unit area. In this context, the effective use of agricultural inputs, especially irrigation, is of strategic importance in sustainably increasing production capacity. In Turkey, a large portion of water resources is used for agricultural irrigation, and the impact of this practice on yield is significant. This research determined the structural characteristics and annual economic activity results of agricultural enterprises in the Çekerek Dam irrigation area in the Zile district of Tokat province, and analyzed the factors affecting enterprise success. Data collected through surveys from 101 enterprises were evaluated in the study. Findings showed that transitioning to irrigated agriculture would result in a 49.25% increase in crop production value. In the enterprise performance analysis, it was determined that enterprises with young and highly educated managers, more rented land, and a higher number of cattle were more successful. Enterprises that shifted their production pattern towards irrigated crops such as sugar beet, corn, and alfalfa were found to have higher performance. According to regression analysis results, it was determined that sugar beet, corn, and sunflower cultivation areas would increase in the region in the coming years; and that land size, productivity, income level, and labor use would be influential on this increase.