Impact of energy pricing on irrigation water use and water productivity in terai region of Nepal

Total water resources of Nepal is 210 BCM and total water withdrawal was estimated to be 9787 MCM, due to under-developed irrigation infrastructure. The highest irrigated area was observed in terai region of Nepal and farmers were using electric and diesel pumps for ground water irrigation. Crop water productivity is one of the important barometer to compare the efficient irrigation water use for crop production. Water productivity can be measured in term of physical water productivity (kg/m³) and combined physical and economic water productivity (Rs/m³). The objectives of present study was to find out the impact of energy pricing on irrigation water use by comparing physical water productivity and net combined physical and economic water productivity under electric and diesel pump irrigation. Study was based on primary data and it was collected in terai region of Nepal. The results showed that physical water productivity and net combined physical and economic water productivity was higher in case of diesel pump owners for all the crops as compared to electric pump owners. The diesel pump owners used less irrigation water because farmers has more control over the irrigation water and marginal cost of pumping groundwater was more costlier (4.24 NPR/m³) than the electric pump owners (0.81 NPR/m³).