Willingness to pay for sustainable water usage in Harran plain-gap region, Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate factors affecting farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainable water usage in terms of efficient irrigation training in the Harran Plain-Turkey and determine the coefficients, and affecting factors that contribute to it. The data used in this study come from a sample of 22, 167 farmers in the Harran Plain, 675 of them were chosen via simple random sampling method and interviewed face to face by given questionnaires. Sampling was conducted in all water user associations’ areas in 2014. The logistic regression and probit model were used for analysis. The results indicate that the average WTP was $170.6 and yearly amount was $3, 781, 690 for irrigation training in Harran plain. Farmers believe in the necessity of irrigation training for sustainable usage and accept for payment by 59% and WTP of the farmers’ may further increase with good practices. Explanatory affecting factors, such as age, education level, land amount, ownership type, modern irrigation method and offered amount for training were significantly explained WTP and coefficients were determined. So, the probability of payment acceptance for irrigation training could be written for any farmers in Harran plain. This study is first of its type in GAP Region-Turkey.