Dadeldhura farmers embrace drip irrigation as water sources decline

Dadeldhura: 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. He received a grant of Rs 400,000 under the “Potato and Entrepreneurship Development Program,” implemented through the Agriculture Knowledge Center, which focuses on land consolidation. He is actively involved in commercial farming with the aim of boosting production and productivity through the use of modern technology.

Kamal Singh Jhukal, a resident of Amargadhi Municipality-9, has taken up full-time farming after retiring from the teaching profession. With support from the Agriculture Knowledge Center, he has been utilizing mulching and drip irrigation technologies. According to him, drip irrigation is an effective technology for commercial farming, even though the initial cost is somewhat higher.

Khemraj Awasthi, a farmer from Dhaulakot in Ganyapdhura Rural Municipality-1, is also preparing to adopt drip irrigation technology in the near future. He believes that modern irrigation systems will help make farming more sustainable amid declining water availability.

Prakash Bahadur Air, a farmer from Tadibata in Amargadhi Municipality-1, is already using drip irrigation. Having ventured into commercial agriculture after retiring from the teaching profession, he has been employing modern technologies for vegetable and other crops. He notes that drip irrigation facilitates the management of both water and fertilizer while also making weeding and irrigation tasks easier.

Dharma Bhatta, a farmer from Amargadhi Municipality-1, is also using drip irrigation for crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, and chili. According to agricultural technicians, some commercial farmers in the district have begun adopting drip irrigation technology alongside mulching.

Pitambar Basnet, Chief of the Program Implementation Unit (Dadeldhura) for the National Agriculture Modernization Program, states that farmers are being supported in installing drip irrigation systems inside plastic houses under the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program. Through this program, farmers engaged in commercial vegetable cultivation are being encouraged to adopt modern irrigation technologies.

According to Narendra Paneru, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Dadeldhura, the district’s potato promotion program provides support in the form of subsidies for improved seed varieties, agricultural mechanization, small-scale irrigation projects, and cold storage facilities for seed potatoes.

Paneru noted that the use of drip irrigation for off-season vegetable farming is on the rise. He explained that drip irrigation technology is being prioritized because it enables higher yields with less water, a crucial advantage in areas where water sources are dwindling due to climate change.

The Agriculture Knowledge Center reported that subsidies were provided to ten farmers last fiscal year for installing drip irrigation systems, both inside and outside polytunnels. Currently, approximately one hundred farmers engaged in commercial agriculture across the district have adopted drip irrigation technology.

Potato cultivation in Dadeldhura currently covers an area of 1,122 hectares. As the district establishes a reputation for seed potato production, there has been an increase in the use of modern irrigation, agricultural mechanization, and advanced technologies. Amid declining water sources, drip irrigation is expected to facilitate efficient water use while boosting both crop yields and farmers’ incomes.