196,000 Decares in Küçük Menderes to Meet Water

October 31, 2026 · dogayidinle.com

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry aims to bring 196,500 decares of agricultural land into a modern closed irrigation network within the scope of the Beydağ Irrigation Project to alleviate drought pressure in the Küçük Menderes Basin.

New Target for Küçük Menderes

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced its irrigation targets in the Küçük Menderes Basin in a new statement on October 20, 2026. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that they aim to develop modern irrigation facilities on 196,500 decares of agricultural land within the scope of the Beydağ Irrigation Project, implemented in the Ödemiş and Beydağ districts. The project is of vital importance for farmers due to the drought affecting the region, decreasing water resources, and rising input costs. This new vision put forth by the Ministry aims to increase productivity in agricultural production and ensure sustainable water management.

Project Scope and Historical Data

The 196,500 decares of irrigation area announced by the Ministry corresponds to 19,650 hectares in the metric system. However, it is noted that this announced figure does not consist entirely of new areas to be opened for irrigation from scratch. According to a report by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) dated January 18, 2021, approximately 120,000 decares of agricultural land were being irrigated with a pressurized pipeline system via the Beydağ Dam. Therefore, the newly announced target indicates a comprehensive modernization process involving the expansion of existing infrastructure and the completion of remaining phases.

Mathematical Differences in Figures

In DSİ's 2021 assessment, it was announced that approximately two-thirds of the project was completed and that the project ultimately aimed to irrigate 196,650 decares of land. There is a difference of 150 decares between the current target of 196,500 decares announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2026 and the old target. Furthermore, when the 120,000 decares previously reported as irrigated are subtracted, theoretically 76,500 decares remain. However, since the phases built after 2021 have not been fully disclosed, this difference needs to be verified with new studies.

Beydağ Dam Water Storage Capacity

The Beydağ Dam, located at the heart of agricultural activities in the Küçük Menderes Basin, forms the lifeblood of the region with its storage capacity of 248 million cubic meters. Meteorological factors such as seasonal rainfall, dam inflow, and temperature-dependent evaporation directly determine the actual volume of water the dam can provide to farmers. According to expert technical reports, high dam capacity alone is not sufficient; water allocations and pipeline transmission systems must be managed correctly. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully manage the perception that uninterrupted water will be supplied to all targeted areas under all climatic conditions.

Additional Water Supply to the Dam from Streams

To support the water resources in the dam, the DSİ had previously implemented the Beydağ Dam Additional Water Supply Project. Within the scope of this project, the first phase of which has been completed, a total of 10,333 meters of transmission line were laid. With this massive pipeline, it was planned to transfer 12 million cubic meters of water annually from the Mutaflar basin and 2.5 million cubic meters from the Abu-hayat basin. Thus, the aim was to provide an average of 14.5 million cubic meters of additional water inflow to the dam annually, with the goal of strengthening irrigation capacity in the basin during dry periods.

Advantages of the Pressurized Pipeline System

The preference for pressurized pipeline systems over open canals in irrigation infrastructure plays a critical role in preventing water loss through evaporation and seepage. With modern closed networks, water is delivered to agricultural plots without loss, minimizing transmission losses. This allows producers to implement their irrigation schedules much more controllably according to the precise periods when the plant needs water. However, supporting the closed network with drip or sprinkler irrigation systems in the field is among the fundamental factors determining whether the expected savings will materialize.

Production and Water in Ödemiş Agriculture

In Ödemiş, one of the most productive centers in İzmir, potato, silage fodder crops, vegetables, and intensive livestock activities are fundamentally dependent on water supply. Insufficient and irregular irrigation water during critical growth periods of plant production can directly lead to yield losses and a decrease in product quality. The expansion of the pressurized irrigation system in the field makes the producer's production planning more predictable. Nevertheless, product yield and cost reduction depend not only on the main transmission line but also on the correct irrigation techniques and water quantities applied in the field.

Expectations on the Ground in Beydağ District

Bringing water to the agricultural lands in the Beydağ district is of strategic importance for producers to save their crops during dry summer months. However, the completion of the main transmission lines does not mean that water will reach the farmer's field directly. Parcel-based land connections, meter installations, network operation order, and maintenance costs need to be clarified. Producers in Beydağ are awaiting the announcement of a detailed schedule regarding which villages and neighborhoods will be connected to the modern network and when in the new phases of the project.

Groundwater Balance in the Basin

It is known that groundwater levels have significantly receded over time throughout Küçük Menderes due to overuse. Delivering surface water from the dam to farmers through modern closed pipes can reduce dependence on deep water wells and electricity consumption in well pumps. However, it should not be assumed that the new irrigation network will completely eliminate groundwater use. To protect aquifers and balance the basin's water budget, illegal wells need to be monitored, and a transition to less water-consuming crop patterns should be supported.

Irrigation Schedule and Producer Costs

While the commissioning of modern irrigation infrastructure shortens labor times and increases irrigation efficiency in the field, producers are closely monitoring the operating and energy costs that pressurized systems may bring. Although the Ministry's statement on October 20, 2026, clearly sets the new target of 196,500 decares, the exact completion dates of the phases have not yet been announced. While the water fee, energy tariffs, and the schedule for the commissioning of new phases are of vital importance to farmers, the ultimate success of the project will be measured by water savings and yield increases in the field.

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