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Drivers of groundwater utilization in water-limited rice production systems in Nepal

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  • Anton Urfels
  • Andrew J. McDonald
  • Timothy J. Krupnik
  • Pieter R. van Oel

Abstract

Most rice farmers in Nepal’s Terai region do not fully utilize irrigation during breaks in monsoon rainfall. This leads to yield losses despite abundant groundwater resources and ongoing expansion of diesel pumps and tubewell infrastructure. We investigate this puzzle by characterizing delay factors governing tubewell irrigation across wealth and precipitation gradients. After the decision to irrigate, different factors delay irrigation by roughly one week. While more sustainable and inexpensive energy for pumping may eventually catalyze transformative change, we identify near-term interventions that may increase rice farmers’ resilience to water stress in smallholder-dominated farming communities based on prevailing types of irrigation infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Anton Urfels & Andrew J. McDonald & Timothy J. Krupnik & Pieter R. van Oel, 2020. "Drivers of groundwater utilization in water-limited rice production systems in Nepal," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1), pages 39-59, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rwinxx:v:45:y:2020:i:1:p:39-59
    DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2019.1708172
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    Cited by:

    1. Urfels, Anton & Mausch, Kai & Harris, Dave & McDonald, Andrew J. & Kishore, Avinash & Balwinder-Singh, & van Halsema, Gerardo & Struik, Paul C. & Craufurd, Peter & Foster, Timothy & Singh, Vartika & K, 2023. "Farm size limits agriculture's poverty reduction potential in Eastern India even with irrigation-led intensification," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    2. Devkota, Krishna Prasad & Devkota, Mina & Paudel, Gokul Prasad & McDonald, Andrew James, 2021. "Coupling landscape-scale diagnostics surveys, on-farm experiments, and simulation to identify entry points for sustainably closing rice yield gaps in Nepal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Kafle, Kashi & Balasubramanya, Soumya & Stifel, David, 2022. "Solar-powered irrigation in Nepal: Adoption and consequences for fossil fuel use," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322256, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Pandey, Vishnu Prasad & Shrestha, Nirman & Urfels, Anton & Ray, Anupama & Khadka, Manohara & Pavelic, Paul & McDonald, Andrew J. & Krupnik, Timothy J., 2023. "Implementing conjunctive management of water resources for irrigation development: A framework applied to the Southern Plain of Western Nepal," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    5. Foster, Timothy & Adhikari, Roshan & Adhikari, Subash & Justice, Scott & Tiwari, Baburam & Urfels, Anton & Krupnik, Timothy J., 2021. "Improving pumpset selection to support intensification of groundwater irrigation in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).

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