The Climate Resilience Research Center (CRRC), in partnership with FutureWater and Practica, is implementing “Smart Sprayer: Efficient Terrace Irrigation in Nepal” in Putalibazar and Bheerkot municipalities of Syangja District. The project aims to address the growing challenge of dry-season water scarcity faced by smallholder farmers, particularly in terrace-based farming systems of the mid-hills.
A delegation from the Netherlands visited Syangja from 9-16 October to support project implementation, engage with local governments, and assess field feasibility. Interaction and coordination programs were held on 10 October in Putalibazar and on 12 October in Bheerkot municipalities. The Putalibazar program was chaired by Mayor Mr. Tulsiram Regmi and attended by municipal officials, farmers, Agricultural Knowledge Center (AKC) representatives, CRRC members, and international partners. During the event, Pepijn van Ravestijn (FutureWater) presented the Smart Sprayer system including Croptimal highlighting its potential to save water, reduce labor, and improve irrigation efficiency. Municipal leaders expressed strong support and commitment to scaling up the technology.
In Bheerkot, Mayor Mr. Govinda Kumar Karmacharya, Chief Administrative Officer, and Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 8 emphasized the importance of long-term, sustainable adoption and the potential to bring barren land under cultivation. Farmers also actively participated in the discussion, raising practical questions regarding the cost of the sprayer, availability of spare parts, and arrangements for repair and maintenance. Representatives from the AKC also shared positive views on the technology and expressed confidence in the outcomes of the feasibility study.
The Smart Sprayer system was then tested in farmer’s fields in Putalibazar and Bheerkot municipality. The project team provided hands-on training to farmers and the CRRC team on installing, operating, and maintaining the Smart Sprayer and solar pump systems.
The CRRC project team pre-listed sites—five in Putalibazar and six sites in Bheerkot—for field-based feasibility assessment. During the field visits, the international team closely observed farmers’ fields, assessed water sources, measured water flow rates, evaluated the distance between water sources and fields, and reviewed overall field and terrace conditions.
Following the feasibility study and site selection, Smart Sprayer units were distributed to altogether 10 shortlisted farmers in Putalibazar and Bheerkot municipalities. The Sprayer was then installed in the fields of all selected farmers.
Farmers were also introduced to the Croptimal mobile app, which delivers weather- and crop-based irrigation advice directly to their phones. Additionally, a weather station was installed at Shree Bhagyodaya Secondary School, Bheerkot Ward No. 6, to support data-driven irrigation planning. On the final day, Jan Nederstigt (Practica) and Alina Dhakal (CRRC) visited Muktinath Krishi Company in Pokhara to explore the Smart Sprayer’s scale-up potential and future marketing prospects in Nepal.
The international field visit successfully kickstarted the technical rollout of the Smart Sprayer system, with strong enthusiasm from farmers in Putalibazar and Bheerkot. The project is set to enhance climate resilience, water efficiency, and livelihoods in Nepal’s terrace farming communities.
For more information about the project outcomes, please follow our project page or contact us at info@climateresilienceresearchcenter.org.np.
