Nepal

In Nepal, ILIMS is working to improve climate resilience, nutrition, yields and income through the expansion of irrigation and mechanization.

Opportunities

Nepal has a notable topography ranging from the flat alluvial Gangetic plains of the Terai (or Tarai) in the south, to the Himalaya mountains in the north reaching more than 28,000 feet above sea level. The country is often divided into three distinct topo-ecological zones – the flat and humid Terai plains, the Hill Country, and the Mountainous regions. Each has distinct features and challenges for food production and water management. Most irrigated agriculture takes place in the 17% of the country occupied by the Terai, where relatively abundant surface water and groundwater resources exist. ILIMS will concentrate on the Terai region to expand access to water resources and ensure that institutional governance of these resources remains a priority. Additionally, ILIMS will work to ensure that improved access to water resources translates into a more well-nourished population and equitable access to market systems, especially for women and youth.

Challenges

Nepal has made good progress in poverty reduction in the last two decades; nevertheless, according to the Asian Development Bank, about 20% of Nepal’s population live below the national poverty line, and about 1.6% of the population subsists on less than $2.15 per day (down from 8.2% in 2010). Foreign exchange remittances make up about 28% of Nepal’s GDP.

Contributing to Solutions

ILIMS is currently engaging with the USAID mission in Nepal and with existing agricultural projects, with a view to becoming more fully engaged in the country soon.

Publications and Additional Resources

Project Partners