Ram Bahadur Rayamajhi irrigates his field using water from a tank constructed by the "smart agriculture" village programme in Pyuthan, Nepal, December 18, 2020. Photo Credit: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Aadesh Subedi

Society Nepal10. January 2021

Smart Water Irrigation Creates Happy Farmers in 116 Villages

Two years ago, a smart agriculture program was launched in the Lumbini province of Nepal to help farmers yield better crops, and fight the impacts of climate change. Today is it in operation in 116 villages.

“About 13 hectares of land that was completely barren in this village is cultivated now after this programme was introduced here,” says Dal Bahadur Rayamajhi, a farmer from Darbhan village, who oversees the programme’s implementation. “Due to the continuous supply of water, the crop yield has increased,” says Ram Bahadur Rayamajhi, another farmer who benefits from the programme.

In its first year, the program was operating in 52 villages. Over the course of the four-year scheme, each village receives some $43,000 a year to finance inputs and services to farmers. Up to 20% of the budget is dedicated to developing tailored technologies and practices so farmers can cope with climate change, including droughts. To that effect, a 75,000-litre tank filled with water pumped using a motor-driven by hydroelectric power was built to irrigate the land.

Source:
Thomson Reuters Foundation

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