1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Participatory action research on drip irrigation [Nepal]

Conducting participatory action research with farmers and line agencies for demonstrating, disseminating and scaling up drip irrigation.

• Compiler: Madhav Dhakal
• 01/16/2009 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

An irrigation system which allows the slow and precise delivery of water to crops

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Drip irrigation is a very water-efficient irrigation system. Water is dripped to individual plant root zones at low rates (2.25 l/hr) from emitters embedded in small diameter plastic pipes.
Farmers in the Jhikhu Khola watershed, Nepal, suffer from a shortage of water for irrigation between the end of one monsoon (June to September) and the next pre-monsoon period (May). This seriously limits agricultural production and leads to much land being left fallow after the monsoon crops have been harvested. Only a small area is planted with winter crops. The sources of irrigation water (such as rivers, and streams) are limited and the amount of water they provide is inadequate for cropping. Most of the sources remain dry outside the monsoon. Farmers expend considerable time and labour gathering what water they can to irrigate their crops. Low cost drip irrigation (LCDI) has been introduced in the watershed as a cost effective way of making the best use of the limited available water.
The cropping pattern of this area sees pre-monsoon vegetables established in February and March and winter vegetables in September and October. The low cost drip irrigation sets are installed while the fields are being prepared by ploughing, levelling, and ridging. Lateral pipes (12m long) are laid along the ridges which lie 1.5m apart. A wooden platform with storage tank is installed and connected to the lateral pipes. After the lateral pipes are laid out, planting holes are dug along the ridges spaced to coincide with the drip holes. These holes are usually set every 0.6 or 1.2m along the pipes depending on the crop. Farmyard manure and chemical fertiliser is placed in each pit and mixed well with the soil. Next, vegetable seedlings are planted in each hole and daily drip watering begins. Bitter gourd is the most commonly grown crop followed by cauliflower. Irrigation water is generally applied either in the morning or the evening. If needed, stakes are placed next to each plant a week later to allow the plants to climb. The climber crops like bitter gourd are netted one month after planting to provide more space for fruiting. Harvesting starts in mid-May and continues until September. Farmers maintain the system by repairing leaks in the pipe joints and by unblocking blocked drip holes.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Nepal

Region/ State/ Province:

Bagmati zone

Further specification of location:

Kavepalanchowk/Jhikhu Khola watershed

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

The technology was first introduced in the Jhikhu Khola watershed ( JKW) in 1993 with the support from University of British Columbia (UBC) but due to the technical problems it stopped in the same year. The drip sets introduced for the first time was North American type, and spare parts were not available after malfunctioning. Later on , from Oct. 2000 to Jan.2001, UBC again conducted experiments using two different types of drip sets , i.e. LCDI and Western Type ( Stefanie 2002) This experiment was conducted on Cauliflower. People and Resource Dynamics Project with the collaboration of Institute of engineering , Tribhuban University has initiated the drip experiment on cauliflower in Hokse ( Kubinde) in November 1999. In 2000 and 2001 the drip experiments were conducted on bitter gourd at Horticultural center( Panchkhal). From 2001 onwards it was introduced to the farmers field.
For this study, most of the discussions will be concentrated on Bitter gourd grown under drip in Panchkhal.

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Concept of drip irrigation came from Israel. LCDI was introduced by IDE/Nepal

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• Reduce water input

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - barley
• cereals - maize
• root/tuber crops - potatoes
• seed crops - sesame, poppy, mustard, other
• vegetables - other

• rice, wheat

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder trees (Calliandra, Leucaena leucocephala, Prosopis, etc.)
• fruits, other

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150 Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Oct Second longest growing period in days: 120 Second longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Feb

Comments:

major cash crop: Tomato, potato, vegetables
major food crop: Rice , wheat , maize
other: Mustard, barley, fodder trees, fruit trees

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Insufficient water limits agricultural production during the winter and pre-monsoon seasons (Nov-May) leading to low farm incomes from the small landholdings. The increasing inputs of chemical fertilisers are a matter of concern for environmental protection.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Irrigation water shortage for the crops grown during winter and premonsoon months.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Rain fed land: Maiz-Wheat /vegetables. Irrigated land: Rice - vegetables/Wheat-vegetabes/ Maize

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

management measures

• M2: Change of management/ intensity level

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

water degradation

• Hs: change in quantity of surface water

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: urbanisation and infrastructure development (poor irrigation infrastructres), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (uneven distribution of precipitation throughout the year.), poverty / wealth (lack of captial - limited fund allocated from government for the irrigation infrastructure development and maintenance), labour availability (lack of labour - out migration for off-farm employment), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge - approapriate technologies and the approach to implement them)

Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes - increased dose of agrochemical use, poor seed qality), land tenure (land subdivision - population growth , separating family members from a household.)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 6 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: spade

The cost is calculated for 150 square meter area , and extrapolated to per hectar of land. Only costs are listed which are additional to the traditional way of growing bitter gourd with out drip. Cost estimated in 2006.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 850 m a.s.l.

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: More in rainy season (June- September), less in April/May

Water quality (untreated): Also good drinking water but poor in rainy season (June- September), less in April/May source: Natural spring

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily

Market orientation of production system: The technology is suitable for vegetable farming , most of the farmers grow vegetables commercially because of the good market access.

Level of mechanization: Land cultivation performed mostly with locally available tools like spade and animals are used during land preparation (ploughing)

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

The practice delivers quick and tangible benefits so that users usually get a return on the cost of investment after only one crop season.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

50 households in an area of 10 ha

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 51-90%

Comments:

58% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

29 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

42% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

21 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Farmers have shown growing interest, no. of drip farmers are increasing year by year, about 50 farmers in the watershed are practicing drip till present. Another 55 farmers are also using the technology with the support from a local NGO ( Ranipani Gram Sewa Samitee) District Soil Conservation Office, (DISCO) Kabhre and District Irrigation Office ( DIO) Kabhre. PARDYP is continuously providing technical support for all ( about 105) the drip users, no of drip users will be increased drastically in coming future if it is easily accessible and sufficient technical knowledge provided to them.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

ICIMOD (2007) Good Practices in Watershed Management, Lessons Learned in the Mid Hills of Nepal. Kathmandu: ICIMOD

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Prajapati-Merz, B. (2003) ‘Drip Irrigation System.’ In PARDYP Annual Report 2003 submitted to ICIMOD, Kathmandu

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Shrestha, S. (2004) Adoption of Drip Technology and It’s Impact on Gender: a Case Study fromJhikhu Khola Watershed, a report submitted to PARDYP project, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Von Westarp, S. (2002) Agricultural Intensifi cation, Soil Fertility Dynamics, and Low CostDrip Irrigation in the Middle Mountains of Nepal, M.Sc. Thesis. Vancouver: University of British Columbia (UBC)

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD,UBC Canada