Irrigation expansion boosts commercial farming in Shuklaphanta, Kanchanpur

Kanchanpur. Farmers engaged in commercial agriculture in Shuklaphanta Municipality-5 have benefited from the expansion of irrigation facilities.

Over the past three years, the ward office has installed 30 shallow tube wells and two auto-gen borings to address the irrigation problems faced by farmers. These were installed by providing subsidy grants to the farmers.

With the expansion of irrigation facilities, water has reached approximately 200 bighas of land, benefiting over 300 farmers. According to Ward Chairman Chakra Bahadur Khadka, priority was given to commercial farmers for the installation of subsidized shallow tube wells and auto-gen borings. He stated that farmers were organized into groups of three to five to receive the shallow tube wells, which has particularly benefited those involved in commercial and high-yield farming.

In the current fiscal year, the work to install an additional 10 shallow tube wells and one auto-gen boring is underway. The ward office has allocated a budget of Rs 400,000 for this purpose. Last year, 10 shallow tube wells and one auto-gen boring were installed, while 10 shallow tube wells were installed the year prior.

Technically, one shallow tube well can provide irrigation for about five bighas of land, while one auto-gen boring has the capacity to irrigate more than 30 bighas. With the expansion of these facilities, the farmers' dependence on rainwater is gradually decreasing.

Ankali Chaudhary, a farmer from Ward-5 Garjamuni, said that farming has become much easier since the irrigation facility was provided. "Previously, we had to rely solely on rainwater, but now we can irrigate as needed," he said. The ward office believes that along with the expansion of irrigation, commercial farming, vegetable cultivation, and multi-cropping will increase. The ward office has stated that the irrigation program will continue to be prioritized in the coming years to increase farmers' production and income.