Adaptation of Micro-Irrigation in Nepal

Small Scale Water Storage Systems: Appropriate means of improving Agricultural Livelihood in the Hills of Nepal

Deepak Lochan Adhikari, Technical Advisor, Development Inn Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

E-mail: deepaklochan@yahoo.com

Chiranjibi Rijal

Managing Director, Development Inn Pvt. Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal

E-mail: csrijal@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Agriculture is the backbone for sustaining rural livelihoods in Nepal. Such an important sector is predominantly based on natural rainfall. Although Nepal is blessed with abundant rainfall on annual basis, most of it occurs during four monsoon months leaving other months almost dry. The hill and mountain slopes are the most water scarce areas. Climate change effects have further aggravated the reliability of rainfall as seen from past years.Poorest have been the hardest hit due to their low adaptive capacity. To cope with the seasonal water scarcity local community have built varieties of water storage structures since historical times. Over years improved modern structures have also been adopted by them with or without agency support. These water storage systems have made significant improvement in the agricultural livelihoods of the rural hill community through easier access to water for micro-irrigation to grow high value crops, livestock watering and domestic water needs. Especially, small water tanks at household level such as modified thai-jars have profound positive effect among rural women who take the prime role to manage water for multiple uses. This paper presents a description of various types of water tank technologies being used by the hill communities of Nepal. Some international experiences have also been cited. Basic impacts of the tank users in their livelihoods are presented. Constraints and opportunities at local and national levels for tank dissemination are identified. On the basis of findings some recommendations are proposed for future course of actions including policy issues. Year-round irrigation is available, farmers grow irrigated crops – wheat, potatoes and vegetables in winter; and spring paddy, mungbean and irrigated maize in spring. Crop production in the dry season has been made possible largely by irrigation, though rainfed winter cropping is feasible in areas of high rainfall (in central and eastern regions) and also through using residual soil moisture following the wet season rice crop. The methodologies used were review of secondary information, field observation, and interviews. Finally potential for its expansion is projected and institutional implementation framework is recommended. 

Keywords: micro-irrigation, thai-jars, Multiple Use Water System(MUS), high value crops, livelihoods 

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