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In this work we propose a methodology to study the irrigation lands efficiency using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA).

DEA allows us study the efficiency in the water use of every irrigation area, by comparison with the others, considering the inputs used and the outputs obtained. Comparing the value of the efficiency of every irrigation district, we can know where the application of the water produces the highest benefit, detect local inefficiencies and offer us a numerical way to improve using the most appropriate inputs/outputs combination.

We have applied this methodology to the Andalusian irrigation lands (South of Spain). Andalusia is a Mediterranean semiarid country where the water is the limitation resource. We take as inputs the water used, the total irrigated cropped area and the total number of people engaged. And considering, as output, the total value of agriculture production.

Results show that the greenhouse crops and the strawberry crops located in the littoral get the maximum efficiency values. And the extensive crops situated inside the country get the lowest.