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.

CRRC, together with Practica held a consultation meeting with Finn Church Aid (FCA) on 18 February 2026 to discuss the Smart Sprayer project and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

The CRRC team and Jan Nederstigt from Practica were welcomed by FCA’s Country Director, Mr. Bidhyanath Bhurtel, along with Ms. Astha Prajapati, Enterprise Development Advisor, and Ms. Surmila Shakya, Program Manager. Following a brief round of introductions, Shankar Lamichhane and Kajol Pandey presented details of the Smart Sprayer project, including its objectives, design, and field-level experiences.

The FCA team expressed strong interest in the technology and asked detailed questions about the sprayer mechanism and the range of crops that could be supported. Discussions highlighted the potential of the Smart Sprayer for diversified crop production and improved irrigation efficiency for smallholder farmers.

FCA shared interest in piloting the technology in far-western districts such as Dadeldhura and Baitadi, subject to feasibility and available resources. The team also noted that local partner organizations, farmer groups, and cooperatives could play an important role in supporting implementation if the technology proves beneficial for farmers. Reflecting on previous experience in Syangja, FCA representatives emphasized the value of adapting the approach to local contexts.

The meeting concluded with a shared interest in staying connected through virtual discussions and exploring opportunities for a second project phase, pending budget availability. Overall, the discussion reflected positive momentum toward expanding the Smart Sprayer initiative to new regions of Nepal.