By TON Nepal

In this era of scientific progression, revolution and obtainability permit to certainly tap and dispense water at places where there is a demand. In this regard, the geographic location, or height, and distance is no more a hurdle. Although it cost differently to benefit from its pumping water, sources and distribution. The necessity of tapping the undiscovered resources of water for agriculture and domestic use in Nepal is more than ever.

In Nepal, the problem of water scarcity and lack of potable water for household use and agriculture has affected its products at significance level. In Nepal for the last two decades considerable areas of land are abandoned as lands without any utilization while some are partially used for summer farming only when there is enough of rain. The poor managing of available water resources seems to be the main reason behind the water scarcity in agriculture and drinking and hygiene purposes.

Lack of water management, harvesting, distribution and misuse in the households and for irrigation, has been a continuing practice in the country. About 16 per cent of households have no access to simple drinking water. Out of the 4.12 million hectares of agriculture land, about 1.76 million hectares is being use for irrigation proposes. Most agriculture fields are settled along the river valleys of Nepal, barely a few meters overhead the river.

Large volumes of water are flowing in the rivers continuously just below the agriculture fields across the country. Weather and climate favor year-round cropping of vegetables, cereals and other high-value crops in the river valleys of Nepal.

However, the demand for food requirements is increasing day by day in the country while production and crop of the agricultural lands are declining, causing in food insecurity in many parts of the country. Due to lack of irrigation amenities, maximum of the lands are left unfertile and uninhibited deprived of proper use. Though, locally available water resources can easily be tapped and used for various purposes, from irrigating our fields to domestic uses.

The existing water scarcity for family and farming use from the lowlands to the mid-hills is largely due to the managing debacle. No noteworthy efforts have been made to drive water from the running rivers for irrigation and home uses. As per estimate of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 210 billion cubic meters of water run out of Nepal every year.

The water volume of the rivers in Nepal is chiefly added by rainy season precipitation along with the melting of snowflake and glaciers flow. The per inhabitant water availability is 8,000 cubic meters per year, but the per inhabitant water withdrawal is only 359 cubic meters per year, well underneath the lowest water demand of the populations. Surely, depending on the geography of the country and location, uneven availability of water exists in the river basins

The people are abandoning agriculture fields in the country areas owing to relocation and foreign occupation, resulting in falling food production. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent on water reaping, placing pipes, and providing water by both the government and development organizations, but the production is seldom noticeable in Nepal.

More than 60 per cent of climate change adaptation activities and funds are focused on agriculture, irrigation, water supply and water-related hazards but with no significant results. Population growth, land use and climate change all affect water requirements, which demand better ways of harvesting and distributing water.

Climate change is further expected to exacerbate the severity of water stress. Climate change is affecting every component of the water cycle, quantity and frequency of precipitation, precipitation extremes, floods, drought, soil moisture, glacier melt and ground water.

Today’s technological advancement, innovation and availability allow us to easily tap and distribute water at places where there is a demand. Geographic location, or elevation, or distance is no longer a barrier. Some may argue that the cost-benefit analysis of pumping water from its source and redistributing it may not allow for successful harvesting of water.

But this is a readymade answer given by the authorities to conceal their inability to address the water issue. Water scarcity could be slashed with existing low-cost technologies. Economically viable water pumping systems are emerging and are available in the market. It just needs a little effort to highlight the finest choice. Solar water pumping, or photovoltaic water pumping is another solution.

This energy source is sustainable from every aspect implementing monetarily and ecologically. To solve these issues related with reducing food production, there must be proper use of all wastelands and uninhibited lands, together private and government-owned, for agriculture.

The main thing is to apply the available local means for the development of output and elevating the living standard of People in Nepal. All the possible means at the native, provincial and national levels must be highlighted. The priority should be given to self-reliance in agricultural products. If each of the local levels think of making their local units sustainable in food and agricultural products, the dependency on other countries can be finished progressively with passage of time.