Nepalgunj, June 17: Farmers in Balapur of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality–8 in Banke have experienced a significant change in their livelihoods after water began reaching their farmlands with lift irrigation.
Farmers who once relied solely on rainfall are now busy cultivating crops throughout the year.
The farmers of Balapur have been attracted to off-season and commercial farming after receiving surface irrigation facilities through a lift system from the under-construction western main canal, the Sikta Irrigation Project.
According to Lok Bahadur Khatri, chairperson of the Balapur Lift Irrigation Farmers’ Group, it was previously difficult to cultivate even two crops a year in the Balapur area, located between the project’s western main canal and Banke National Park.
However, fields across the village now remain green all the year round.
He said irrigation facilities have proven to be a blessing for farmers, resulting in increased agricultural production.
He added, “Earlier, we didn’t even have enough to eat from farming, but now we have enough to eat and even save. After the lift irrigation water started coming in for two years, the fields that were previously barren are now always green.”
Local farmer Uma Devkota recalled how difficult it was to sustain the family through farming that depended solely on rainfall.
She said lift irrigation had now made it possible to grow three crops a year.
She also urged the project authorities to arrange additional water distribution points to ensure irrigation reaches more farmers’ fields.Farmer Devkota said, “We used to feel that water from the Sikta canal was not meant for us, but we were wrong. Even through lift technology, the project managed to bring water to our fields.”
According to Arjun Neupane from the Institutional Development Branch of the Sikta Irrigation Project, efforts are under way to supply water through lift technology to areas where surface irrigation cannot reach.
He said the lift system is being expanded in various locations around both the western and eastern canals.
According to the project, the Sikta Irrigation Project aims to provide irrigation facilities to around 43,000 hectares of land. So far, irrigation facilities have been expanded to 22,500 hectares.
Under the plan to supply water through lift systems to 16 locations where surface irrigation is not feasible, four projects in the western canal area are already in operation, while construction is ongoing at 11 locations along the eastern canal and one location along the western canal, said the project. #nepal
