Baseline Survey for Impact Study of MRJKIP Phase-I of Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project

Project Description

One of the most prominent FMISs in the Terai are the Rani Jamara and Kulariya irrigation schemes with a combined cultivable command area (CCA) of 14,300 ha, of which about 11,000 ha is currently being irrigated. The schemes were developed by the Tharu farmers between 1896 A.D. (Rani System) and 1915 A.D. (Kulariya System). The Jamara System was developed from 1903 A.D. onwards. The scheme constitutes three independent traditional irrigation systems constructed, operated, and managed by the farmers, with the majority comprising people from the indigenous Tharu community. The scheme is located in Kailali District of the Far Western Development Region and comprises of eight Village Development Committees (VDCs), and one Municipality, Tikapur which is the main township and market centre in the project area. Department of Irrigation initiated the project aimed at improving the reliability and efficiency of irrigation water diversion and application to the existing farmers managed systems and if possible, bring more area under irrigation by constructing a permanent water diversion and control structure. The Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project envisages irrigating about 38,300 ha of land (14,300 ha under RJK schemes, 6,000 ha in the north of RJK and east of Pathariya river and 18,000 ha in the west of Pathariya river) in Kailali District in the Far Western Region. The command area, thus, will extend from the Karnali River in the East to the Kandra River in the West and forest boundary in the North to Nepal-India Border in the South.
The components of project development activities to be carried out under the financial assistance of World Bank are listed as follows:
Component-I : This involves construction and modernization of existing infrastructure including construction and rehabilitation of intake structures, control structures, diversion structures, and canal bank protection works within the command area of old irrigation networks (14,600ha)
Componenet-II: This component comprises the strengthening of Water Users Association.
Component III : This involves agricultural production support. The project, through its Agriculture Service Center in Tikapur, under the guidance of the the District Agricultural Development Office (DADO) is promoting improved and water efficient agricultural technologies to farmers through farmer field schools, provision of quality seeds and inputs, field based practical demonstrations and training programs in the project command area.

Assignment Description

The main objectives carried out by the consultants: • Collected and reviewed past project studies, reports, documents, maps etc. relating to RJKIP • Collected secondary data related to the projects and its command area including that of the project influence area; • Collected information on irrigation, agriculture, environment and social sector related programs, plans, government policies within scope of project objectives through appropriate methodologies • Collected primary information through household sample surveys (2,500 HH) to represent head, middle and tail of the irrigation systems i.e. Rani, Jamara, and Kulariya • Collecting data of diverse ethnic groups, different land holding and tenancy and gender, poor, disadvantage groups etc. • Collection and review of information/documents on EIA/ESIA of irrigated area under RJKIP. • Data Analysis relating with gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) aspects or irrigation systems. • Household selected included both farmers group (Treatment Group) and Household not directly affiliated to Farmer’s Group (Control Group) • Data Entry, processing and analyzed the collected data using MS-Access • Preparation and submission of inception, draft and final reports. The details of the survey: Data Collection Activities Number of Samples Rapid House Listing and Baseline Data Survey Around 500 Household Detailed Household Survey 2000 total for Baseline in March 2016 2500 total for follow-up in 2016; 2000 in command area and 500 in expansion area Community Survey Approximately 70 pending number of villages located in listing of expansion area