KATHMANDU, JUNE 30
As delayed monsoon rains slow paddy transplantation across the country, government data show that nearly four out of every 10 hectares of irrigable farmland in Nepal still lack irrigation facilities, leaving farmers heavily dependent on rainfall.
According to the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources, irrigation infrastructure currently covers only 1.59 million hectares, or 62.68 percent, of the country's 2.53 million hectares of land requiring regular irrigation.
The shortfall comes at a critical time, with farmers in many districts struggling to transplant paddy due to inadequate rainfall. In several areas, nursery seedlings have started drying up while farmers wait for sufficient rain.
The department said Nepal has 3.56 million hectares of cultivable land, but irrigation expansion continues to lag behind demand.
Although the department aimed to expand irrigation to 6,750 hectares during the current fiscal year, only 4,048 hectares had been added by mid-March. Officials attributed the slow progress to project cuts and disruptions caused by protests.
Agriculture experts say expanding reliable irrigation infrastructure is crucial for increasing food production, improving food security and reducing climate-related risks.
The figures come as Nepal marks National Paddy Day amid concerns that erratic rainfall could affect this year's rice production.