Evaluation of Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Agricultural Extension Services in GAP-Harran Plain, Turkey

The purpose of this research was to determine Willingness To Pay (WTP) of farmers and explore the potential factors that contribute to it for agricultural extension services in GAP-Harran Plain in Turkey. A comprehensive questionnaire was conducted face to face with ۴۶۱ farmers out of ۲۱,۰۹۴, by the simple random sampling method during the irrigation season of ۲۰۱۱ and validity of the data was checked until ۲۰۱۵ on a yearly basis. The contingent valuation method, binomial probit and maximum likelihood methods were used for analysis. The results indicated the existence of the ability to pay and the average WTP for efficient extension service based on irrigation was ۴۷۵.۸ TL. It is ۱.۲۸% of their yearly income and their total WTP was calculated as ۶ million per year for the plain. Explanatory factors in the index, such as secondary school, high school, and university graduates from the view pint of educational level, married farmers, and land amounts increased WTP, while gravity irrigation users and proposed increased bid price for extension and training services decreased WTP. The results are important for decision and policy makers, encouraging private sectors to involve in extension and training services. Also, they contain useful information for countries with similar technical and socio-cultural characteristics.

Keywords:

Agricultural irrigation , Efficient farming , Farmers’ training , Sustainable income