The Climate Resilience Research Center (CRRC) took part in a one-day Provincial Consultation Workshop held in Biratnagar as part of the design process for the National Small Irrigation Programme (N-SIP). The workshop, organized under the broader N-SIP Review, Learning, Coordination and Future Planning Programme, brought together a wide range of stakeholders including representatives from federal, provincial, and local governments, SIP/N-SIP officials, development partners, technical experts, Water User Associations, municipal representatives, farmers, and other stakeholders, alongside participants from Geokrishi.

As an organization actively engaged in climate-resilient irrigation initiatives, CRRC joined the workshop as an invited guest to contribute to discussions shaping the design of the nationwide small irrigation programme. The session combined presentations, group discussions, and guest remarks aimed at reviewing implementation progress, sharing lessons learned, and charting a future direction for small irrigation systems across Nepal.

Discussions during the workshop underscored the critical role small irrigation systems play in boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening food security, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Participants noted that reliable irrigation access has enabled farmers to grow multiple crops year-round, contributing to higher yields, increased household income, and greater rural employment. The programme’s contributions to constructing, rehabilitating, and improving community-managed irrigation systems, as well as building the capacity of Water Users’ Associations, were widely appreciated as products of strong collaboration between all three tiers of government, development partners, and local communities.

Guests commended the programme’s achievements to date, called for continued collaboration across all levels of government, and reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable irrigation investment and future programme expansion.

CRRC values the opportunity to engage in such national-level dialogues, which align closely with its ongoing work on climate-resilient irrigation solutions, including its Smart Sprayer initiative for terrace farming communities in Syangja. The Center looks forward to continued collaboration with N-SIP and its partners in advancing sustainable irrigation across Nepal.