In this study, disengagement policy of the state in water resources management, farmers' participation in operation and maintenance of the public irrigation schemes and turning over them to the farmers have been evaluated. The cause and reason for disengagement policy of the state in water resources management, and institutional structure of water management have been discussed at the first two parts of the presentation. Information were provided about soil and water resources of Turkey, and agricultural production potential and present production level have been explained at the third section of the study. Problems associated with operation and maintenance and possibilities of privatisation of the public irrigation schemes have been stated and possible and viable solutions have been also suggested in section 4. As a case study, Turkey's experience with users' participation and full transfer of irrigation systems to users has been presented in section 5