THESIS ABSTRACT

Abstract

The availability of irrigation water is pivotal in enhancing agricultural productivity by satisfying crop water requirements, thus bridging the food production demand gap. This study evaluates the performance of the Manpure Irrigation Sub-Project, assessing three key aspects: 1) adequacy of physical infrastructure, 2) command area activities encompassing cropping patterns, crop yields, and cropping intensity, and 3) the operation and maintenance status of the canal system and farmer satisfaction. Data collection involved primary and secondary sources, with field observations, questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions for primary data, and project reports and Water Users Association (WUA) records for secondary data. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were employed to achieve the study objectives. The Manpure Irrigation System underwent rehabilitation funded by the World Bank through the Irrigation Water Resources Management Project, executed by the Department of Irrigation, Mid-Western Irrigation Development Division-2. The rehabilitation was concluded in 2014 AD. From the approved project report, it is found that the system and its corresponding structures were designed to irrigate only 400 hectares of land, The main canal's full supply capacity is 1361lps. With a duty of 2.5 lps per hectare as considered in the Project design report the canal's existing system is capacitated to irrigate 400 hectares only. Whereas, from the same system, the farmers are trying hard to irrigate 1000 hectares of land which has been delineated and validated during the field visit. As a result, the irrigation infrastructure was found only fairly functional with a need for regular maintenance to get reliable water from the irrigation system. In the monsoon, on one hand, the farmers are facing the problem of overflanking and on the other hand, in the dry season, the problem of heavy seepage loss is encountered by the farmers. Cropping intensity increased significantly from 167.5% pre-rehabilitation to 212.5% post- rehabilitation, accompanied by a crop yield rise from an average of 20% to 100%. Farmers levied irrigation service fees of NRS 10 per kattha per year and membership fees at the same rate. Additionally, they collected NRS 175,000 annually from two brick kilns utilizing water from the canal system. vii The farmers view that the maintenance work is only fairly satisfactory. Given the underdesign of the system, substantial rehabilitation is imperative to provide reliable irrigation for the entire command area. Until such rehabilitation occurs, farmers require assistance in developing a scientifically sound canal operation plan to irrigate the existing 1000 hectares and formulating short and long-term maintenance strategies, including periodic desilting of the system. Adaptation of crop diversity such as vegetable farming and horticulture could result in reducing the water delivery stress of the farmers. In order to have sound resources for canal maintenance the farmers could be suggested to increase not only the irrigation fee but also the membership renewal fee from NRS. 10 to around NRs 50.00. The Manpure irrigation system's performance assessment highlights the critical need for infrastructure upgrades to meet agricultural demands effectively. This study underscores the importance of aligning irrigation system design with actual land requirements to ensure sustainable and efficient water resource management in irrigated agriculture.

Keywords

Irrigation Infrastructure, Underdesigned, Cropping Pattern and Intensity, Yields, Operation & Maintenance Practices.