South Asia: Nepal: Community Groundwater Irrigation Sector Project

Abstract

Agriculture is a very important sector of the Nepalese economy, accounting for about one-third of gross domestic product and providing the main source of livelihood for about 80% of the rural population, the majority of whom are small farmers. However, the agriculture sector has traditionally performed below expectations mainly due to the lack of reliable irrigation, particularly in the Terai (lowland plains), which has the potential for significant agriculture development through increased use of groundwater resources.