The Paracatu/Entre-Ribeiros Irrigation Scheme in Southeastern Brazil – Features and Challenges in Performance Assessment

A case study is presented on the irrigation performanceassessment of the Paracatu/ Entre-Ribeirosproject, a privately owned/managedcenter-pivot irrigation scheme inSoutheastern Brazil. Seven indicators werechosen (delivery performance, overallconsumptive ratio, sustainability ofirrigated area, power and energyconsumption, operation and maintenancefraction, unit gross economic return, andglobal revenue/cost ratio) to assess theperformance of the scheme in the periodfrom 1997 through 2000. The values obtainedfor these indicators seem to haveadequately expressed the current situationof the scheme by identifying low values ofoverall consumptive ratio, an indication ofthe need for improvement in the watermanagement strategies of individualfarmers.