Evaluation of Performance in Collective Irrigation Agencies: A Systematic Review and a Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT This study has carried out a comprehensive review of 51 studies using the original set of performance indicators (PIs) proposed by Malano and Burton in 2001, in order to evaluate the performance of collective irrigation agencies (CIAs) on a global scale. Bibliographic analysis has revealed a concentration of papers in semi‐arid areas, especially in Spain and Turkey. The meta‐analysis allowed a comprehensive diagnosis of CIAs operating in four countries (Italy, Malaysia, Spain and Turkey). The good performance of the CIAs was clearly associated with the following factors: satisfactory coverage of irrigation services, water delivery efficiency, financial self‐sufficiency, capacity of fee collection and economic production. These factors included responses to smaller command areas, the prevalence of on‐demand water distribution methods and water‐conveying systems in pressured pipelines, and the significant presence of farm drip systems. In contrast, the poorly performing CIAs presented poor irrigation service coverage and an excessive water supply to crops and personnel staff. These issues led to insufficient system operations as well as to poor economic performance, due to low financial self‐sufficiency, capacity of fee collection, economic production and high maintenance, operation and management costs.