Dadeldhura Farmers Embrace Drip Irrigation Amid Declining Water Sources

Commercial farmers in Dadeldhura are increasingly turning to modern irrigation technologies amid drying water sources, a lack of irrigation facilities, and rising production costs. The use of drip irrigation technology, in particular, is on the rise in the district. Commercial farmers are prioritizing drip irrigation because it delivers the necessary amount of water directly to plant roots while using minimal water. Agricultural technicians note that its adoption is increasing in vegetable and potato farming because it saves water, labor, and time compared to traditional irrigation methods.

Padam Bahadur Air, a farmer from Dola in Amargadhi Municipality-1, has been commercially producing seed potatoes. This year, he produced 740 quintals of seed potatoes. Having received support from the Agriculture Knowledge Center and the Potato Superzone Program, Air is preparing to expand his use of drip irrigation technology to further enhance production efficiency. Another farmer from Amargadhi, Prince Raj Awasthi, is also engaged in large-scale potato farming and received a grant of Rs 400,000 under the Potato and Entrepreneurship Development Program to boost productivity.

Kamal Singh Jhukal, a resident of Amargadhi Municipality-9, took up full-time farming after retiring from teaching. With support from the Agriculture Knowledge Center, he has utilized mulching and drip irrigation technologies. According to him, drip irrigation is an effective technology for commercial farming, despite its somewhat higher initial cost. Khemrajsingh Awasthi from Ganyapdhura Rural Municipality-1 is also preparing to adopt drip irrigation technology soon to make farming more sustainable amid declining water availability.

Pitambar Basnet, Chief of the Program Implementation Unit for the National Agriculture Modernization Program in Dadeldhura, stated that farmers are being supported in installing drip irrigation systems inside plastic houses under the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program. Through this initiative, commercial vegetable growers are encouraged to adopt modern irrigation. According to Narendra Paneru, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Dadeldhura, the district’s potato promotion program provides subsidies for improved seed varieties, agricultural mechanization, and small-scale irrigation projects.

The Agriculture Knowledge Center reported that subsidies were provided to ten farmers last fiscal year for installing drip irrigation systems inside and outside polytunnels. Currently, approximately one hundred commercial farmers across the district have adopted drip irrigation technology. Potato cultivation in Dadeldhura currently covers 1,122 hectares. As the district establishes a reputation for seed potato production, advanced irrigation and mechanization are expected to facilitate efficient water use while boosting crop yields and farmers' incomes.