In Nepal, therefore we can manage natural water resource for long term irrigation

 As we all know Nepali agriculture is mostly rainfed agriculture. Irrigation is one of the major challenges in many places all over the country. Climate change and global warming have blamed for water scarcity for a long. However, the knowledge and understanding of natural water management could be the biggest problem for poor irrigation and drinking water in Nepal.

There is no debate that Nepal is rich in natural water resources, you can find many small streams and rivers in hilly areas. Furthermore, there are many water catchment areas in hills and mountains. However, the water from these resources such as rivers and streams in catchment areas is being wasted without any use. On a seasonal basis, such as for rice transplantation season, these water resources often used, but they do not use for water collection and use for the future. 

How can we manage natural water resources?

A. Harvesting and collecting natural water from the catchment areas

In Nepal, the wasted water from small streams, rivers, and lakes from catchment areas can be collected in a big dam. In Australia, they have very few freshwater resources, therefore, to provide drinking water to the community, they catch the water from all possible catchment areas and make a dam for distribution. In a similar way, the wastewater from these small but significant streams can be collected throughout the year and can be utilized for irrigation when there is low or no rainfall. 

Image: Water collection from catchment areas in a dam for drinking water and another purpose in Australia

There are many natural water resources, from where water flows 24 hours in high hills and mountains so often. In addition, during the rainfall season, there are many new water resources that can find; plus the level of water always becomes high in streams and rivers during the rainy season. We always have surplus water during the rainy season but usually have scarcity during winter and dry seasons. Therefore, collecting this surplus water during the rainy season can bring happiness to people's life later in the dry season. 

We called 'Mul ko pani' for continuously flowing water from its original resource, which flows continuously 24 hrs a day.  'Mul ko pani' can find mostly in high hills and mountains and this water usually wasted during nighttime because nobody uses it at night. We can harvest this wasted water and can use it to lower hills for multipurpose. 

B. Harvesting rainfall

During the rainy season, Nepal often has surplus water. From every roof of the house, water always goes to the draining system directly without thinking we could harvest that water. However, we can harvest and collect rainfall water every year and collect it in a big tank, which can later use in multiple uses including irrigation on the farm. 

Irrigation is important in agriculture equally as other intercultural operations. However, because of poor understanding, poor knowledge, and ideas, Nepal is facing a big challenge with irrigation. The solution to this problem is to understand we can utilize what we already have such as even a very small spill, stream, river, or any forms of natural water resources that can be collected at multiple times in many catchment areas and can significantly be used in irrigation and many other purposes.