Sikta Irrigation Project Facilitates Rapid Paddy Plantation in Banke Amidst Insufficient Rainfall

Banke. Despite insufficient rainfall, paddy plantation has intensified in various areas of Banke as water has started flowing through the canals from the Sikta Irrigation Project. Farmers have begun planting paddy in their fields without waiting for monsoon rains, thanks to the water supplied through the project's canal system.

Melina Chaudhary of Nawalpur, Raptisohnari Rural Municipality-3, has started paddy plantation from Monday, utilizing the water from the canal. She has planted paddy in four katthas of her land and is preparing to complete the plantation in the remaining nine katthas today.

Chaudhary, who got her field planted with the help of 13 members of the Jaljala Women's Group, paid them Rs 120 per person per hour as wages. She said, "Since Sikta has released water into the canal, we are able to plant paddy with peace of mind even without rain from the sky. It has become very easy to plant paddy with the canal water."

Mansara Dangi from the same village, who came to plant paddy in Melina's field, also stated that farming has become easier due to Sikta's water. Informing that she is preparing to plant paddy in her 14 katthas of land today, she said, "Previously, we were uncertain about when to plant due to worries about water. Now that water has come into the canal, we can cultivate on time. I will start planting in my own field today as well."

The Sikta Irrigation Project started releasing water in the Nawalpur area of Raptisohnari Rural Municipality-3 from Sunday, prompting local farmers to engage in paddy plantation. Local farmer Chandrabahadur Thapa has undertaken the first plantation of this year in Nawalpur. He mentioned that he has already completed paddy plantation in five katthas and 14 dhurs of land in the first week of Ashad.

Thapa said, "With the availability of water from Sikta, the worry of fields remaining barren has been removed. We are able to plant earlier than in previous years. Since we can cultivate on time, we expect a good yield this year as well."

According to farmers, the water from the Sikta Irrigation Project has made farming easier by reducing dependence on rainfall. With the regular supply of water through the canal system, paddy plantation has gained momentum in various parts of Banke. The project has stated that it has so far provided irrigation facilities to approximately 22,000 hectares of land in Banke district. It is expected that the irrigation area will expand to 30,000 to 32,000 hectares once the under-construction Dudhwa branch canal is completed.

Sikta Irrigation Project Engineer Bikash Bisht informed that water is being operated through the eastern and western main canals from the project's headworks. According to him, water is being distributed from the 317-meter-long dam to the eastern and western main canals. Water is flowing through various branches and Rajkulo in Fatehpur towards the east, while irrigation water has been provided to branches like Sidhaniya, Akkalgharwa, Gohawa, Pindari, Parsenipur, and Gurubagaun in the west.

Engineer Bisht said, "Out of the approximately 43,000 hectares that the Sikta Irrigation Project is supposed to provide water to, we are currently supplying water for irrigation to 22,000 hectares. Canal construction is underway for the 16,000 hectares that the Dudhwa branch is supposed to irrigate."

According to him, the construction of the Dudhwa canal system is targeted to be completed within three years. The first year of construction has been completed, and the structures including the Dudhwa branch, Khajura branch, and Manpur branch will be completed within the remaining two years.

Engineer Bisht said, "Upon completion of the Dudhwa branch canal, 16,000 hectares of land will receive irrigation facilities. If the work progresses at this pace, we will be successful in bringing water to the 43,000 hectares of land to be irrigated under the project in Banke district within three years."

Currently, the project aims to expand irrigation services to 43,675 hectares of land, and he stated that the total irrigated area will reach 30,000 to 32,000 hectares after the completion of the Dudhwa branch. According to Engineer Bisht, water is being provided to farmers for nursery preparation and plantation from the first or second week of Ashad every year. He expressed confidence, saying, "We believe that by the end of Ashad, paddy plantation will be completed in most areas where the Sikta Irrigation Project can supply water."

This year, despite insufficient rainfall in Banke, paddy plantation has begun in various parts of the district after the Sikta Irrigation Project started operating water from Shiksha Dahar. According to the project, plantation has started in Kohalpur Municipality Wards 6, 10, and 15, Janaki Rural Municipality Wards 3, 4, and 5, Baijanath Rural Municipality Wards 5 and 7, Dudhwa Rural Municipality Wards 2 and 5, and Khajura Rural Municipality Wards 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Similarly, farmers in Raptisohnari Rural Municipality Wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and Narainapur Rural Municipality Ward 6 have started planting paddy using water from the Sikta canal. Farmers in these areas are busy with paddy plantation after water reached through the Sidhaniya, Akkalgharwa, Gohawa, Pindari, Parsenipur, and Gurubagaun branch canals.