IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF WATER POLLUTION IN MEXICALI AND THRACE REGIONS

The agricultural areas located at the Mexicali valley in Mexico are irrigated by the Colorado river across the 7 states of America. The water potential of the river basin is 2550 hm(3). In the Mexicali valley, 15 000 farms cultivate nearly 136 000 ha. Water management in the valley is implemented by 23 cooperatives which are named 'units' as well. Every unit has activities on two primary subjects. These are operation and protection units, i.e. operation unit is responsible for the distribution of the water to the producers and protection unit is involved for cleaning the irrigation ditches, their repairs and also maintenance for pumping units. The ownership of the water is related to farm ownership so that renting the farm means renting the water. Renting is very common and the farms are generally used for vegetable production. However, because of the water pollution, quality losses are observed for the agricultural products in the Mexicali valley. In the same manner, by the Meric river which comes from Bulgaria, various agricultural products are produced on the river basin. State Water Affairs, the General Directorate of Rural Services, cooperatives and unions and private irrigations are established for the irrigation of the region. The most important problem for irrigation in the region is water pollution. Every year in the summer, the decrease in the flow increases the pollution concentration of the water. Especially in paddy farming, quality and yield decreases are seen due to the pollution of the Meric river. The income and life quality of the farmers in the region are negatively affected by the pollution. In the last 50 years, environmental pollution became the most important issue that threatens the safety of the food. In the Mexicali and Thrace regions, for supplementing safe food, it must be taken into account that environmental pollution is a very important problem that concerns every country in the world and must be solved by international cooperation. In this study, irrigation management and socio-economic effects of water pollution will be analysed by comparing two regions having similar problems and solutions to problems will be developed.