This woeful tale reflects the hardship of other indigenous communities in the district as well. [break]
But this year, the Chepangs of Korak VDC were able to install 10 plastic ponds in Kirantar and harvest rice even in winter, much to their joy.
Water collected in the plastic ponds, which are brought by pipe from the Dhad River, has irrigated the fields, enabling them to realise an ample crop output. The plastic ponds were installed through the help and financial support of Nepal Rural Development Organization (NeRuDO).
"Most of the time we had to eat roots and bulbs from the forest but this year we cultivated rice, using water from the plastic ponds," said a local, Maya Praja. She has been watering her fields from one of the plastic ponds.
"At first I was not sure about using the pond water as I feared it could damage the seedlings, but it worked out like normal irrigation," said Khadak Bahadur Chepan. "After observing the benefits of the new irrigation process, I have lent my land to be turned into a plastic pond," he added.
Not just Khadak but most Chepangs of the VDC have planted green vegetables and also stocked up on rice and other crops in their houses. "Last year I couldn´t even grow millet because of drought but this year I have green vegetables in my field -- thanks to water from the plastic ponds," said Sanu Maya Chepang.
Water from the plastic ponds is distributed to farmers through pipes, informed agricultural technician Man Kumar Chaudhary. "The water is distributed to farmers by turns. The flow of water is slow but it does offer a lifeline to the farmers," said Chaudhary. "This irrigation will improve the lifestyle of Chepang families," he added.
According to project director of NeRUDO Man Kumar Chaudhary, all 480 households of the VDC will have water from the plastic ponds after completion of the project.
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