Framework for effectiveness and resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal

This report establishes a framework to enhance the resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal against climate change. It identifies that while long-term climate threats include erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, short-term pressures are driven by non-climatic factors such as riverbed mining and rural migration. The study recommends a shift toward risk-based design, integrated groundwater and surface water management, and strengthened river basin governance to ensure water security.

• Climate change in Nepal is characterized by increasing temperatures, with trends ranging from 0.27°C to 0.55°C per decade, which exceeds the global warming rate. While annual precipitation totals show no statistically significant trend, patterns have shifted, including an increase in extreme precipitation days and a higher frequency of droughts, particularly in the western Tarai and during winter months.
• Small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal are threatened by both climatic and non-climatic factors. Climatic impacts include reduced river run-off, increased flood flows from intense rainfall, higher water demand due to temperature rises, and changes in crop suitability. Non-climatic factors, which are more significant in the short term, include land use change, upstream water consumption, river resource mining (sand and gravel), and rural-to-urban migration leading to labor shortages.

APA

Pradhan, P., Parajuli, U. N., & Khanal, R. C. (2017). Framework for effectiveness and resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Framework-for-effectiveness-and-resilience-of-small-and-medium-scale-irrigation-systems-in-nepal.pdf

Chicago

Pradhan, Prachanda, Umesh Nath Parajuli, and Ram Chandra Khanal. Framework for effectiveness and resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2017. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Framework-for-effectiveness-and-resilience-of-small-and-medium-scale-irrigation-systems-in-nepal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pradhan |first1=Prachanda |last2=Parajuli |first2=Umesh Nath |last3=Khanal |first3=Ram Chandra |title=Framework for effectiveness and resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=June 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Framework-for-effectiveness-and-resilience-of-small-and-medium-scale-irrigation-systems-in-nepal.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pradhan2017framework, author = {Pradhan, Prachanda and Parajuli, Umesh Nath and Khanal, Ram Chandra}, title = {{Framework for effectiveness and resilience of small- and medium-scale irrigation systems in Nepal}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Framework-for-effectiveness-and-resilience-of-small-and-medium-scale-irrigation-systems-in-nepal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }