Drivers of groundwater utilization in water-limited rice production systems in Nepal

Anton Urfels,Andrew J Mcdonald,Timothy J Krupnik,Pieter R Van Oel

doi:10.1080/02508060.2019.1708172

Abstract

ABSTRACTMost rice farmers in Nepal’s Terai region do not fully utilize irrigation during breaks in monsoon rainfall. This leads to yield losses despite abundant groundwater resources and ongoing expansion of diesel pumps and tubewell infrastructure. We investigate this puzzle by characterizing delay factors governing tubewell irrigation across wealth and precipitation gradients. After the decision to irrigate, different factors delay irrigation by roughly one week. While more sustainable and inexpensive energy for pumping may eventually catalyze transformative change, we identify near-term interventions that may increase rice farmers’ resilience to water stress in smallholder-dominated farming communities based on prevailing types of irrigation infrastructure.

Highlights

Feeding a projected global population of 9 billion in 2050 will require focused efforts to address trade-offs and capitalize on synergies between natural resources management and food security objectives, necessitating broad-based transitions to sustainable intensification technologies and management approaches (Pretty & Bharucha, 2014)
This study has established and ranked the importance of the key factors influencing the use of shallow tubewells for supplementary irrigation in kharif-season rice cultivation in the Terai region of Nepal
In areas where diesel pumps predominate, the factors most limiting shallow tubewell use are poor coordination among water users, delays in pump and tubewell availability, and financial constraints coupled with risk aversion towards cash investment

Summary

Introduction

The Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia host the world’s highest density of rural poor, pervasive yield gaps, and relatively abundant water resources (Bharati, Sharma, & Smakthin, 2016; Jain et al, 2017). They are a global priority for sustainably increasing food production while ensuring that yield gains are accompanied by acceptable social and environmental costs and that long-term viability of the resource base is maintained. Despite an overall abundance of water resources, water stress is one of the main factors limiting staple crop productivity in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. Many farmers in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains apply supplementary ‘life-saving’ irrigation to overcome

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion