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

The report investigates the vulnerability of Nepal's small- and medium-scale irrigation systems to climate change and non-climatic stressors. It finds that while non-climatic factors like land-use change and riverbed mining are critical in the short term, long-term climate impacts—including increased temperature, erratic rainfall, and reduced seasonal water availability—pose severe risks. Through case studies in the Banaganga and Girwari basins, the study demonstrates that water availability has dropped significantly, leading farmers to adopt deficit irrigation and groundwater extraction. The report proposes a resilience framework focusing on three pillars: systems (infrastructure), institutions (governance), and agents (individuals), recommending risk-based design, improved river basin management, and better use of seasonal forecasts.

• Climate change in Nepal is characterized by increasing temperatures, which are rising faster than the global average, and erratic precipitation patterns that lead to more frequent droughts and intense rainfall events.
• Small- and medium-scale irrigation systems face dual threats from climate change: increased risk of flooding and flash floods, and changes in seasonal water availability, with the latter being more critical for systems in dry areas.
• Non-climatic factors currently have a more significant short-term impact on irrigation systems than climate change, though climate impacts are expected to dominate in the long term.
• Case studies in the Banaganga and Girwari basins show a severe decline in minimum river flows over the last three decades, with some flows reducing by approximately 50%.
• Groundwater irrigation is found to be more resilient to climate change than surface irrigation systems.
• Local farmers have adapted to declining water availability through institutional strengthening, the installation of tube wells, the use of deficit irrigation, and the adoption of short-duration crop varieties.
• The proposed resilience framework emphasizes that effectiveness must be addressed across three integrated elements: systems (infrastructure and basins), institutions (rules and management), and agents (individuals and organizations).

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} }