Irrigation benchmarking is a process of comparative analysis of irrigation performance that enables scheme managers to understand the performance of their irrigation services. To better understand the process of monitoring irrigation performance, this brief will use Cambodia as an illustrative example. Irrigated rice production in Cambodia has significant potential, yet performance of the sector lags behind surrounding countries, such as Viet Nam’s delta region. In addition, there are limited available and published data in Cambodia, making it difficult to analyze the current and changing state of irrigation in the country, the productivity levels, or irrigation’s contribution to poverty alleviation and economic growth. For these reasons, Cambodia was selected as a country to pilot the transfer of key learnings from the Australian experience of irrigation performance benchmarking, and to develop a benchmarking methodology as a first step to undertake ongoing performance assessment of irrigation schemes for strategic investments in increasing water productivity.

To read the policy brief, visit the following link: Irrigation Performance Benchmarking