38 research outputs found
Reviving Nepal's agriculture: mixed farming can boost Nepal’s income, food security and resilience to climate change
No full textBreaking barriers in agriculture: implementing and scaling innovations in mixed farming systems is possible only with inclusive policies
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Simulating farm income under the current soil management regime in the mid-hills of Nepal
No full textFarmers in the mid-hills of Nepal follow diverse farming systems. The peri-urban area of this region, where population density is higher, faces several problems in farming. While hills suffer from erosion because they are erodible, the peri-urban areas face the problem of decline in factor productivity, particularly in intensively cultivated farmlands. The present study is concerned with simulating farm income on a regional scale based on soil management practices. Spatial explicit simulation shows that the loss of farm income due to degradation is substantially higher in hills while it is lower in valley bottoms. Strategy formulation and testing in the spatial environment indicates that Geographic Information System is an appropriate methodological tool for simulating the consequences of particular interventions. Key words: Mid hills, Nepal, spatial modeling, soil quality index, farm income DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v6i8.3243 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.6 Issue 8 2010 pp.27-34</jats:p
Can the traditionally managed FMIS in Nepal be strengthen by incorporating groundwater-based irrigation systems?
No full textFarmer Managed Irrigated System (FMIS) which is predominantly surface irrigation system in Nepal irrigates 51% of country’s total surface irrigated area. The FMIS system has a century-old history with a network of irrigation infrastructures and robust institutional mechanisms.
However, FMIS faces challenges, with water shortage being a major concern, particularly during the dry season. The effects of climate change, extreme weather events, and socioeconomic developments, such as rising labor migration, have further exacerbated the water shortage. As a result, farmers are unable to maximize their outputs and face difficulties in transitioning to commercial and high-value crops. Additionally, waterrelated disputes, especially among tail users, are evident, leading to labor scarcity and a reduction in the FMIS command area. The FMIS system stands at a crossroads, and failure to address these challenges promptly could result in significant damage costs, including the loss of land and labor productivity, as well as the erosion of social capital and physical infrastructures. Moreover, there have been cases where FMIS canals, known as Raj Kulo, have been converted into roads and other public infrastructures.
In contrast, groundwater development in the Tarai region has been evolving independently. Groundwater resources are extensively utilized by farmers in Nepal's plains, employing various groundwater pumping technologies to meet their irrigation water requirements. However, the development of groundwater faces its own set of challenges, including the need for separate social and physical infrastructures and increasing transaction costs for smooth functioning. Additionally, the higher irrigation costs associated with pumping water from groundwater sources pose financial burdens on independent groundwater users, which could be avoided through integration with the FMIS surface irrigation system.
To address these challenges, the study proposes a holistic and integrated FMIS and groundwater-based irrigation model. This model encourages the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources, considering social, economic, and environmental factors simultaneously and utilizing common social and physical infrastructures. During the monsoon season, surface water can be utilized for irrigation crops and also replenishing groundwater reserve. In the summer and winter, when surface water availability decreases, farmers can switch to groundwater to optimize their farm income.
The study combines primary and secondary data. Secondary literature was extensively used to gather information on FMIS, while primary data from six case studies of deep tube wells (DTWs) conducted in the Madhesh Province were collected to gain insights into groundwater use models. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed to compare farm income, labor expenses, irrigation costs, and institutional dynamics between FMIS and groundwater-based irrigation systems. The results indicate the potential benefits and synergies of integrating FMIS and groundwater-based irrigation, which can revitalize FMIS, improve agricultural practices, and enhance farm profitability.
The proposed integrated model offers advantages, such as conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, year-round irrigation, groundwater replenishment during the monsoon season, and the utilization of existing FMIS social and physical infrastructures. While the integration may involve additional expenses, specially primarily installation costs, it is anticipated that the resulting lower labor costs for repairs and maintenance, reduced canal construction expenses, and higher farm profits will offset these initial investments and contribute to the overall sustainability of the agricultural system.
Although the proposed integrated model has not yet been implemented extensively, FMIS and groundwater-based irrigation systems have been piloted and validated separately in the past. Therefore, it is recommended to test the dynamic model in terms of economic and environmental aspects and consider upscaling it to a broader agro-ecological zone.
The findings suggest that integrating FMIS with groundwater-based irrigation presents an opportunity to overcome the challenges faced by both systems in Nepal's Tarai region. By leveraging the strengths of each system and utilizing common social and physical infrastructures, the proposed approach can contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, improve farm profitability, and mitigate water scarcity issues. However, further research, collaboration, and policy support are needed to implement and scale up this integrated model successfully
Identifying Market Challenges and Opportunities in Mixed Farming System Piloted Sites of Mid-hills Of Nepal: The Khotang Case
No full textThis report aims to identify the market challenges and opportunities of agriculture commodities in Eastern Nepal with a specific focus on Halesi-Tuwachung Municipality in Khotang district, which is one of the piloting sites of Mixed Farming System (MFS) of CGIAR’s initiative. The report is structured into seven major sub-sections as follows. The introductory section is followed by a presentation of key features of the study area and methods and sources of data/information used in the report. The third section highlights the agriculture market related observations and findings in the study area including the current state of market participation of farming households in Nepal, with specific data on market engagement in different regions, including Khotang. Fourth section highlights the agriculture market related policies from the federal to local context. The fifth section identifies key market related challenges including socio-economic, policy, and bio-physical challenges that impede the transition of subsistence farmers towards market-oriented agriculture. The sixth section identifies potential opportunities for integrating MFS into the market. The seventh section portrays the enabling conditions that can facilitate the integration of mixed farming systems into the market including the recommendations for policymakers, development practitioners, and market players to promote market participation among mixed farmers for improving households’ income, ensuring food security, and improving livelihoods
Bringing new focus on groundwater irrigation in Nepal’s irrigation policy: Potential policy opportunities and pathways
No full textThe last irrigation policy of Nepal (2003) acknowledged that the traditional focus of irrigation development in Nepal has been on run-off river-based surface water irrigation. To counter the problems of seasonal low flows of rivers, groundwater resources were regarded mostly as a supplementary or conjunctive irrigation source that could extend irrigation year-round. However, there have been several new developments in the irrigation sector and water systems of Nepal that now call for a new focus and approach to groundwater irrigatio
Basic water measurement instruments enhance irrigation management in Nepal
No full textBasic water measurement instruments introduced by IWMI in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation enabled an irrigation project in Western Nepal to improve agricultural productivit
Interlacing of Regional Water Policies, Institutions and Agreements with Livelihoods and Disaster Vulnerabilities in the HKH Region: A Case Study of Kosi River Basin
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