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signing ceremony

On February 6, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nepal for the Project for Promotion of Irrigated Agriculture in Terai Plain, a technical cooperation project.

The project will support the creation of a high-productivity irrigated agriculture model for the Terai plains and the extension of the model while strengthening the capacity of government agencies and water user associations to operate, manage and maintain irrigation facilities.

For many years, the Government of Nepal and donors have cooperated to improve the irrigation infrastructure in Nepal, particularly on the Terai plains. However, the irrigation facilities have not been adequately utilized due to inadequacies in the following areas: operation of the basic facilities by government agencies, maintenance and management of terminal water channels by the water user associations, use of the irrigation water and collection of water use fees. While most of the land in Nepal has steep grades, the Terai plains are suitable for development for rice cultivation, and the proper management of irrigation facilities has a vital role in the agricultural development of the Terai plains that the Government of Nepal desires.

JICA has supported and continues to support increases in agricultural income by diversifying and adding high value to agricultural products along Sindhuli Road, which was constructed with JICA support, with the goals of improving lives and reducing poverty in rural areas. Going forward, JICA will also take measures to support improvements in food production by promoting irrigated agriculture in the Terai plains.

The project will build a better irrigated agriculture model and formulate guidelines that can be applied to irrigation areas outside of the Terai plains with the aim of widely applying the irrigated agriculture model. The project is also expected to stabilize food production and improve farmer incomes by promoting irrigated agriculture in the Terai plains.

[Basic project information]

Country	Federal Republic of Nepal
Project title	The Project for Promotion of Irrigated Agriculture in Terai Plain
Planned implementation period	March 2019 to March 2024
Executing agency	Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation
Target region	Kankai Municipality, Jhapa District
Specific project details (provisional)	1) Capacity-building in the areas of irrigation facility maintenance and management, and water allocation adjustments; 2) the creation of an irrigated agriculture model with implementation of a market-oriented irrigated agriculture; 3) and the formulation of guidelines to extend the irrigated agriculture model to irrigated land outside of the Terai plains.