Introsuction; Performance indicatores for comparison; Features of the selected indicators; The indicators; Application; Temporal and spatial variation of indicators within a project; Limitations of the indicators; Interpretation of results; Discussion; data requirements to calculate performance indicators; Calculation example of performance indicators; World markrt prices of agricultural; products in constant 1995 dollars.

Describes and evaluates the application of IWMI's minimum set of performance indicators to the Alto Rio Lerma Irrigation District, and compares this with the application of a small set of process performance indicators.

Many formal irrigation schemes are performing inefficiently for a number of reasons, among which the poor performance of irrigation institutions is one. Benchmarking may be defined as the identification and application of organisation specific best practices with the goal of improving competitiveness, performance and efficiency of such schemes. These guidelines are neither perfect nor final; rather, they represent the beginning of a long and exciting process of benchmarking in the irrigation and drainage sector.