Managerial Aspects of Irrigation Systems in Nepal

This review highlights managerial aspects of irrigation systems in Nepal, specially Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems (FMIS) and JMIS and AMIS

 

Managerial Aspects of Irrigation Systems in Nepal

Authors: 

✏️ Dharma Raj Bagale1, Iswar Nath Pakwan2

1Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. 

Email: drbagale@afu.edu.np

2Banganga Irrigation Management Office, Kapilvastu, Nepal 

 

Abstract:  

A review is carried out based on the available literature and reports about the managerial aspects of irrigation systems in Nepal. Attempts are made to generalize the findings from different previously studied published and unpublished reports. From this review, it is concluded that Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems (FMIS) and Jointly Management Irrigation Systems (JMIS) cover the larger portion of irrigated agricultural land of Nepal. Similarly, Agency Managed Irrigation Systems (AMIS) are under the process of management transfer. Although the discourse of intervening private management in irrigation systems are underway, they have not taken any shape.   

Introduction   

Contribution of agriculture in the GDP of Nepal has declined to 23.9 percent and provides employment opportunities to 57.3 percent of the total population (National Statistics Office, 2023). Among the different variables in agricultural production, irrigation plays a vital role.

Irrigation facilities in Nepal are provided through small, medium and large scale projects. The management of these projects is always a challenging issue, failure of which leads to great loss in terms of economic investment and affects the farmer’s livelihood. In this context, small scale irrigation projects in general are constructed and managed by farmers themselves, medium scale projects are also managed by farmers with technical support from the government and the large ones are managed jointly by farmers and the government agency.

History of Irrigation Development in Nepal  

Irrigation development in Nepal  can be identified as: pre-modern period, where farmers were largely responsible for development and management of irrigation; construction period between 1960 and 1990, where huge investments were made by the government in infrastructure development and construction of new facilities which is still in progress; and a period from 1990 to present, where besides new construction, efforts have been  placed on better management of infrastructure (Prasad, P, & Molden, 2000). The development phases of the irrigation systems in Nepal can be categorized as follows: 

 i.  Primary Phase  

Irrigation facilities constructed in the Kathmandu valley during Lichhvi period and Malla period such as Raj Kulos of which the traces are still found, are the oldest ones under primary phase. King Ram Shah of Gorkha had a special contribution in the irrigation management aspect by empowering local people in irrigation related dispute resolution. During the Rana regime, Chandra Shumsher, with the assistance of British engineers, had developed Chandra Canal System in 1928. The other irrigation facilities during primary phase are- Juddha Canal in Sarlahi district, Jagadishpur Irrigation system in Kapilvastu district, Pardi Irrigation system in Pokhara, etc. In addition to these, the irrigation systems developed with the involvement of the State within this period covered 6,228 ha.  

 ii.  Infrastructure Development Phase  

Irrigation facilities developed in 1st, 2nd and 3rd Periodic Plan periods fall under the infrastructure development phase. Nepal developed different irrigation facilities with the cooperation from India and USA in this phase. Tika Bhairav, Mahadev Khola and Budhanilkantha irrigation systems in the Kathmandu valley and Vijayapur irrigation system in Pokhara were developed. Likewise, Sirsha, Dudhaura and Tilawe irrigation systems were developed by the Indian engineers under the financial aid of the USA. Khageri (Chitwan), Kamala and Hardinath (Dhanusha), Kodku-Godavari (Lalitpur), Pashupati (Kathmandu), Jhanjh (Rautahat) and Tinau (Rupandehi) are the examples of a few other irrigation systems that can be cited in infrastructure development phase. Apart from these, irrigation systems, which were developed under the Koshi and Gandak treaties with India, were also constructed during those three periodic plan periods.  

 iii.  Intensive Development Phase  

During 4th, 5th and 6th Periodic Plan periods, multilateral donor agencies like the World Bank and the ADB came forward in aid of Nepal in irrigation development. These agencies focused their assistance to convey irrigation water to farmers’ fields with the canal network development from the infrastructure already created and to initiate coordination between irrigation and agricultural agencies, hence the name- intensive development phase. Development of Kankai and Mahakali-I Irrigation Projects, initiation of command area development in Narayani Zone Irrigation System, etc., were carried out with these agencies’ assistance. During these periods, CARE Nepal had assisted to develop a number of small irrigation systems covering a total of 10,000 ha. Bhairahawa Lumbini Groundwater, Marchawar Lift and Hill Irrigation Projects were also initiated in this intensive development phase.  

 iv.  Integrated Development Phase  

From the 7th Plan onward, i.e., since the mid-eighties, there has been a major paradigm shift in irrigation development. Construction oriented development has been given less importance and new dimensions- such as farmers’ participation through organized associations, rehabilitation of farmers’ canals, management transfer, etc., have been given more and more attention. Leaving Bagmati, Babai, Mahakali-II and Sikta Irrigation Projects aside, no other major projects were taken up. Rehabilitations of small farmers’ canals were given high priority under a sectoral approach. Irrigation Sector Projects were implemented and the ongoing Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Support Project is being implemented in Central and Eastern regions under the assistance of ADB. The World Bank version of these projects implemented in the remaining three western regions are the Irrigation Line of Credit Project, Nepal Irrigation Sector Project and the IWRMP.

Irrigation Systems Management Practices in Nepal  

The management of irrigation systems comprises the physical, institutional, social and financial systems. The physical system comprises the infrastructures such as headwork, conveyance network, distribution system, etc. The institutional aspect of irrigation system includes the Water User’s Association (WUA) and skilled manpower from the Department of Irrigation (DOI). The social aspects include the well representation from the various groups in the society and maintaining the rules of law in the system governance. The financial aspect of the irrigation system includes the repair and maintenance cost, water charges, etc. At the meantime, maintaining equity in water distribution is very essential. Nepal government’s Irrigation Policy, 2013 has prescribed five categories for irrigation management: i) user operated system, ii) government operated system, iii) government and WUA jointly operated system, iv) local bodies and WUA jointly operated system, and v) systems operated at private level. The user operated system includes both traditional irrigation systems as well as the systems transferred to the users by governmental or nongovernmental bodies. Irrigation systems were developed in Nepal and managed by farmers, well known these days as farmer managed irrigation systems (FMIS).  (Pradhan, 2000) claims almost 70% of the irrigated area in Nepal, fall under farmer managed irrigation systems (FMIS). And, (IMP, 2019) has mentioned that FMIS accounts only 51% of the surface irrigation systems. The remaining contribution may be from groundwater systems. Therefore, jointly managed irrigation systems (JMIS) and FMIS are the two major approaches widely adopted in irrigation system management in Nepal. The irrigation policy has the provision of WUA from the field channel to the main canal. It has assured the one third participation of women in the management committee and appropriate representation of various social groups. It has envisaged the role of the WUA registered as per the law to be capable and accountable for sustainability of the irrigation systems. However, the irrigation service fee (ISF) collection from these systems in practice is very minimal. The table shows the ecological zone wise coverage of irrigation systems under these two management approaches.  

Table 1: Irrigation coverage under different management systems

Ecological zone	Jointly Managed (ha)	Farmer Managed  (ha)
Terai	350,926	240,213
Hill	4,275	105,109
Mountain	1,852	26,072
Total	357,053	371,394

(Source: IMP, 2019)  

Behind these two systems, government operated systems popularly known as agency managed irrigation systems (AMIS) covering about 303,000 ha of irrigated land are in some way under the process of management transfer to joint management.

Although the farmers’ management systems are considered as a social capital, the changing population dynamics, migration, modernization of society, etc. have created negative pressure on the irrigation system management. At the same time, the increased level of awareness in the farmers, political changes have enhanced the inclusive participation of the farmers in the system management. Similarly, the usual problems of the agriculture sector such as lack of market facility, not getting fair price of the produce, unavailability of inputs on time, hindering provision for loans, inefficient subsidy mechanism, etc. also have negative impacts in the management of irrigation systems.  

The government policy also has the provision for privately developing and operating the irrigation systems by obtaining the license.  However, the provision still needs the clear mechanism for implementation.

Conclusion   

The irrigation systems management in Nepal is dominated mainly by JMIS and FMIS. The AMIS are mostly under the process of management transfer. The involvement of the users in water management has led to the ownership of the farmers towards the irrigation systems. Therefore, people’s participation can be increased in the maintenance of the system. However, in some cases the situation is deteriorating.

References   

1. IMP. (2019). Irrigation Master Plan 2019. Lalitpur: Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal.   

2. National Statistics Office. (2023). National Population and Housing Census 2021. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.   

3. Pradhan, P. (2000). FARMER MANAGED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN NEPAL AT THE  CROSSROAD. 8th

4. Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASCP), (pp. 1-14). Bloomington, Indiana.   

5. Prasad, C. K., P, T. B., & Molden, D. J. (2000). Tracing the history of the development and management of two irrigation systems in the Terai of Nepal. Challenges facing irrigation and drainage in the new millennium (pp. 357-371). Fort Collins, Colorado, USA: Proceedings US Committee on Irrigation and Drainage.   

This is the web copy of an article that was originally published in the print version of 'The agrineer 2023' - Annual Magazine.