Irrigation Planning for Riverbank Farmlands Now Possible via Mobile
Kathmandu, 04 Aug: A digital technology has been developed to design irrigation projects for arable land located along riverbanks. Through this technology, farmers, government bodies, and communities can design lift irrigation-based projects using their mobile phones or computers.
This has been made possible through the “PURE Platform”, a program developed jointly by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). According to ICIMOD’s program manager Abhishek Malla, users can go to the websites of either organization and use the platform to design lift irrigation systems for land near rivers that currently lack irrigation.
Malla explained that users must first create an account and select their province, district, and local municipality. Once selected, the chosen area appears on the screen. Users then identify the farmland needing irrigation and select a central point on the river from which water can be lifted. Based on this input, the platform automatically generates a proposed irrigation plan.
The PURE platform generates a preliminary project report, which includes details such as:
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The area of land to be irrigated
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Distance from the river to the farmland
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Water availability in the river
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Road accessibility
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Electricity cost
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Transmission line proximity
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Nearby markets
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Estimated project cost
“This platform produces a preliminary report for lift irrigation planning,” said Malla. “While there may be minor variations during implementation, the figures remain largely accurate. We believe this will make irrigation project planning easier for farmers and all levels of government.”
Malla also noted that the platform was built using data provided by government agencies, satellite images, and other geospatial resources. He emphasized that the platform’s effectiveness will be improved through regular data updates.
Suzen Nepali, ICIMOD’s Geographic Information System (GIS) analyst, said the PURE platform supports the generation of initial project reports for lift irrigation, helping estimate the distance from the river to the farmland and the required investment—critical factors in project planning.
According to ICIMOD, the platform—launched in 2024—has been used to study irrigation feasibility at 439 locations, out of which 48 sites were identified as suitable. Three of these projects are already under implementation.
Kushal Gurung, CEO of Wind Power Nepal, has stated that around 60% of Nepal’s land area still lacks irrigation facilities, and that lift irrigation technology is a practical solution to address this gap.
Compared to building canals or traditional irrigation channels, lift technology is quicker and more efficient, Gurung said. He added that this method allows for the use of alternative energy sources for irrigation.
“Solar energy can be used in lift irrigation, and in areas connected to the national grid, electricity can be used,” he explained. “Riverbanks and streamside farmlands often remain dry, causing hardships for farmers—lift irrigation can provide a faster solution to this.”
He emphasized that using renewable energy is also essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change, and that farmers can now immediately design lift irrigation projects using the PURE platform.
“Unlike canals or channels, lift technology doesn’t require a long process or large investment,” Gurung noted. “Water can be pumped using solar or electric-powered machines for irrigation.”
He further stated that adopting lift irrigation would help eliminate the issue of farmland along riverbanks remaining dry and underutilized.
Highlighting current practices, Gurung said that around 160,000 diesel pumps are still in use for irrigation in Nepal, with farmers spending up to NPR 200,000 annually on diesel purchases alone. Switching to electric pumps would be more affordable and help increase the consumption of domestically produced electricity, he suggested.
Laxmi Prasad Ghimire, Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), said that pilot projects for solar-powered irrigation have already been implemented in Terai districts. In hilly areas, the government aims to promote lift irrigation systems using the PURE platform for more effective planning.
Meanwhile, Hari Dutta Paudel, Senior Divisional Engineer at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Gandaki Province, said that the provincial government is subsidizing electricity costs for lift irrigation and drinking water systems.
He noted that NPR 50 million had been allocated for this subsidy in the last fiscal year, out of which around NPR 42.5 million was utilized.
Paudel added that Gandaki Province still faces the challenge of bringing irrigation to 170,000 hectares of farmland. By promoting electric-powered irrigation systems, the government hopes to attract more youth to agriculture.
“We’ve provided electricity subsidies for lift irrigation and drinking water projects,” he said. “If we can develop electric-based farming systems, we believe it will encourage young people to engage in agriculture.”
He also highlighted that the PURE platform, which supports the planning of lift-based irrigation projects, makes cost estimation much easier, aiding both farmers and policymakers.
