AGRO – ECONOMIC FEATURE

This chapter deals with important agro-economic features of the study area such as location, soils, climate, rainfall, irrigation sources, land utilization pattern demographic features, cropping pattern, agricultural background of crops and other resources. The present study pertains to Bardiya district of Nepal.

INTRODUCTION

Bardiya district is one of the Terai district Mid-Eastern part of Nepal and situated in Western area of Nepal. Bardiya district is surrounded by Bankey district in East, Kailali district in West, Utter Pradesh (India) in South and Surkhet district in North. Different types of crops are grown in this area like paddy, wheat, maize, mustard, lentil, gram and products are exported. Due to excessive production of chilies and parwar, these two crops are exported to different part of India and Kathmandu Valley. Bardiya district is known as “Store of food grains”. Total population of Bardiya is 390337 (F.Y. 056/057).

There is road facility from Kothiyaghat (West) to Nepalganj (East) and in Rajapur area (11 V.D.C.). There is no proper facility for road communication. Due to these difficulties this district is known as “BACKWARD DISTRICT (DURGAM)”. Presently there is facility of platoon bridge on Bhery River. Due to this there is facility of road communication in nearby areas. Population of Kailali district is also using this bridge. Royal Bardiya National Park of Thakurdwara VDC and Khairapur’s Black Buck are two main attraction for the tourists. Thousands of Nepalies and Foreigners come to enjoy the natural beauty of the place.

GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION

Total Area - 228000 hectare

Headquarter - Gulariya

Boarder - East – Bankey, West – Kailali, North – Surkhet, South – (U.P) India.

Latitude - 28º7’ North to 28º39’ North

Longitude - 81º3’ East to 81º41’ East

Climate - Tropical and sub-tropical

Length - 64 km. East to West

Height - 138 to 1279 mt. (from sea level)

Slope - Below 20º

Annual Rainfall - 1050 ml.

Average Temperature - 17.5ºC – 34.5ºC

Maximum Temperature - 40.2ºC

Minimum Temperature - 7.7ºC

Tourists Places - Royal Bardiya National Park (Thakurdwara), Black Buck (Khairapur VDC), Badhaiya Lake, Karnali River (Chisapani)

Lakes - Badhaiya Lake, Somraj Lake etc.

Rivers - Karnai, Babai, Bheri Mankhola etc.

Reglious Place - Bageshwari Temple, Kotahi Temple

(Gulariya), Shiva Temple (Thakurdwara) and Shiva Temple (Magaragarhi and Rajapur)

Village Development Committees - 31

Municipality - 1 (Gulariya)

Election Area - 3 (Parliamentary)

LAND USE PATTERN

Table 4.1 Description About Land Use.

S.N.	Particulars	Area (hectare)	Percentage
1.	Royal Bardiya National Park	98,000	42.98
2.	Forest	3,90,21.5	17.12
3.	Ponds, Rivers, Lakes	14,982.5	6.58
4.	Grazing Area	996	0.43
5.	Agricultural Area	75,000	32.89
	Total Area	2,28,000	100.00

Source : District Agricultural Development Office (Bardiya).

LAND O WNERSHIP

There are 2/3^rd marginal farmers, 1/3^rd small and large farmers in this district. 1.65 percent are large farmers who have more than 6.33 hectare land under them. 4.92 percent are small farmers holding 3.7 hectare of land under them and tenants are 9.99. Average area for per family is 1.34 hectare.

Table 4.2 Land Ownership.

1	Particulars	No. of Family	Percentage
1.	Farmers holdings below 3.33 ha.	39582	70.98
2.	Farmers holdings 3.33 ha. – 6.66 ha.	2745	4.92
3.	Farmers holdings above 6.66 ha.	918	1.65
4.	Tenants (Mohi farmers)	5568	9.99
5.	Kamaiya Farmers	6949	12.46
	Total	55762	100.00

Source : Land Reform Office, Bardiya.

DISTRICT INDEX (Profile)

1. Total cultivated area - 59640 ha.

2. Total family numbers - 55762

3. Area per family - 1.34 ha.

4. Pocket area - 7150 ha.

5. Total area : Pocket area - 11.98%

6. Irrigated area - 29216 ha.

7. Total area : Irrigated area - 48.98%

8. Total irrigated area : Pocket area - 24.47%

9. Total area under food grains - 59200 ha.

(Paddy – 37878, Wheat – 22010,

Maize – 9312)

10. Total area under vegetables - 1520 ha.

11. Food grains : Vegetable - 1:0.02

12. Area under Horticulture - 507 ha.

13. Food grains : Horticultural area - 1:0.007

14. Total number of farmers groups - 104

15. Number of households/ - 536.17

Farmers group

16. Total Manpower - 39

(Technicians & Officers)

17. Technical per household - 1429.8

18. Total organized programme - Rs.1623000/-

Budget

19. Total programme expenditure - Rs.1395165.45

Budget

20. Total programme expenditure - 85.96%

Budget

21. Expenditure Budget/ - 35773.47

Technician

22. Programme Budget/ - 13415.05

Farmer group

23. Number of farmers groups/ - 2.66

Technician

24. Programme Budget Expenditure/ - 23.39

hectare

25. Programme Budget Expenditure/ - 25.02

Household

TABLE 4.3 AREA AND PRODUCTION OF RICE IN BARDIYA DISTRICT.

Year	Area in hectare	Production in m.t.	Productivity m.t.
1994/1995	33095	129070.5	3.90
1995/1996	34080	129040	3.78
1996/1997	34087	134643	3.95
1997/1998	34500	123736	3.30
1998/1999	37878	125235	3.30
1999/2000	37878	154542.24	4.08

Source : Annual Agricultural Development Programme and Upalabdhi Ek Jhalak (1999/2000) (F.Y. 2056/2057).

IRRIGATED LAND

In Bardiya district 48.98 percent (29216 hectare) land is irrigated. Rajapur irrigation project provides irrigation facility to 15051 hectare land of 11 VDCs in this district. 7156 hectare land is irrigated by projects like District Irrigation Office, Bardiya (Dhodhari), Taratal Irrigation Project, Suryapatuwa Irrigation Project, Rehukhole etc. Babai Project provides irrigation facility to 700 hectare land. Remaining 6174 ha. land is irrigated by pods, lakes and tubewells etc. other than above projects, 400 personal tubewells of farmers irrigate 1000 hectares of land.

Table 4.4 Irrigation Situation of District.

S.N.	Types of Land	Area (hectare)	Percentage
1.	Irrigated	29216	48.98
2.	Semi Irrigated	6177	10.36
3.	Un-irrigated	24247	4066
	Total	59640	100.00

Source : District Irrigation Office, Bardiya.

Table 4.5 Irrigation Programmes of District.

S.N.	Irrigation Programme	Irrigated Area (ha.)	Irrigation Place
1.	Rajapur Irrigation Project	15051	11 VDCs of Rajapur Area
2.	Suryapatuwa Irrigation Project	1300	Suryapatuwa & Thakurdwara
3.	Kuthara Laganiya Irrigation Project	400	Belwa
4.	Rehu Khola Irrigation Project	200	Motipur
5.	Dhodhari Taratal Irrigation Project	3825	Dhodhari, Taratal, Sanosri
6.	Bargdaha Jamti Neulapur First Stage	432	Bargdaha, Neulapur
7.	Bargdaha Jamti Neulapur Second Stage	1008	Bargdaha, Neulapur

contd……

8.	Babai Irrigation Project	7000	Dhadhawar, Deudakala, Baniyabhar, Padnaha, Magaragarhi
9.	Kaligandi Kulo (River)	200	Shivapur
10.	Pratap Kulo (River)	98	Neulapur
11.	Balati Kamela Kulo (River)	200	Neulapur
12.	Dhakela & Khaireni Kulo	210	Dhadhawar
13.	Shorahawa Kulo (River)	130	Shorahawa
14.	Bhaisahi Kulo (River)	400	Mohamedpur
15.	Mainapokhar Kulo (River)	150	Mainapokhar
16.	Jamuni, Lift (A+B) Irrigation	84	Jamuni
17.	Shimara Tal Kulo (River)	200	Jamuni
18.	Chaphala Kulo	100	Mainpokhar
	Total	30988

RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE

Tropical type of climate is found in this district. Annual rainfall of this district is 2050 mm. 85% rainfall occurs during monsoon season. Average temperature of this district lies between 17.7ºC – 34.50ºC. Baisakh, Jaistha, Asar, Srawan and Bhadau are specially very warm months. In these months main rainfall is very less and mercury rises very high. Nearby areas remain very dry. Hot waves flow during Jaistha and Asar month.

ROAD

Some part of the highway directing East-West comes in Bardiya district. Pakka road extends from district headequarter (Gulariya) to Indian Border (Murtiha) (3 kms.), Nepalganj to East (Mankhola) (19 kms.) and 4.5 km toward West Khairapur. Gravel Road extends from Gulariya to Kothiyaghat (24 kms.). The road facility of this district is not of such a quality that it should put a significant effect on agricultural development. The newly made platoon Bridge on Bheri River which will last for 8 months is only there to help the farmers.

Total Road Facilities (kms.)

Coltar Road - 91.5 kms.

Gravel Road (including Agricultural Road) - 82.54 kms.

POPULATION

The population is increasing day by day without taking in consideration the area because of the high productivity and cheapness of the land.

Population growth rate - 3.77%

Population density/km. - 171

No. of households - 55762

Average No. of family - 7

LANGUAGES

Table 4.6 Languages.

S.N.	Languages	Population	Percentage
1.	Tharu	149865	51.62
2.	Nepali	106711	36.75
3.	Awadhi	15415	5.30
4.	Hindi	10564	3.63
5.	Urdu	1705	0.60
6.	Others	6013	2.07
	Total	290313	100.00

Source : Census 2048 B.S., Nepal.

RELIGION

Table 4.7 Religions.

S.N.	Religions	Population	Percentage
1.	Hindu	281036	96.8
2.	Islam	7269	2.5
3.	Baudha	1174	0.4
4.	Others	834	0.28

Table 4.8 Educational Status of the District.

School/Campus	No.	No. of Teachers			No. of Students
		Male	Female	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
Campus (College)	1	NA	NA	NA	185	75	256
10 + 2	5	9	-	9	221	169	390
High School	32	154	6	160	3075	1626	4601
Secondary School	28	175	9	184	9578	5359	14937
Primary School	156	703	159	862	38495	29837	68332
Boarding Schools
High School	5	16	-	16	143	53	196
Secondary School	5	21	4	25	308	144	452
Primary	18	39	21	60	2018	9950	11986

Source : District Education Office, Bardiya, Nepal.

CROPPING PATTERNS OF THE DISTRICT

1. Single cropping - Paddy/Arhar

2. Double cropping - Maize-Wheat, Maize-Mustard, Paddy-Lentil, Paddy-Mustard,

Paddy-Wheat, Paddy-Gram

3. Multiple cropping - Paddy-Wheat-Zaid Paddy

Paddy-Wheat-Mung

Maize – Potato - Zaid Maize/ Onion, Paddy-Mustard-Maize

4. Mixed Cropping - Mustard + Gram/Mustard+ Lentil/Wheat+Pea/Maize+ Cotton/Arhar+Cotton/ Maize+Arhar

5. Realy cropping - Paddy+Lentil

6. Inter cropping - Arhar+Jwar/Bajra-Arhar+ Maize

Cropping Intensity = 180-200%

BHIMMAPUR VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Bhimmapur VDC is located 32 km. West from district headquarter (Gulariya) of Bardiya district. Nine villages comes under Bhimmapur VDC.

BHIMMAPUR VDC PROFILE

Total households - 1285

Total population - 9829

Male - 4773

Female - 5056

Total labours - 542

Landless labours - 519

School going children - 1835

Total irrigated land - 2000 ha.

Total cultivated land - 2500 ha.

Total agricultural land - 3000 ha.

High School - One

Primary School - Five

Fallow land - 314 ha.

Community forest - 75 ha.

Residential field - 64 ha.

River, ponds etc. - 14 ha.

Roads - 33 ha.

Landless farmers - 442 (Households)

Total Literacy - 5487 (65%)

Male - 3104

Female - 2383

Total Illiteracy - 2922

Male - 1267

Female - 1655

People belonging to different caste live in this area. Maximum 68.45% belong to Tharu, 6.22% are Brahmin and rest are Kshatri, Kami, Magar, Damai and Gurung. Rajapur irriation project provides irrigation facility for this VDC.

54% families have less than 0.33 ha. of land and maximum families live on daily wages. This VDC is backward in education. There is no awareness regarding education percentage of children not going to school is 32.40%.

Inspite of efforts of development programmes run by Government and non-government organization. No positive change can be seen in the livelihood of people living in this VDC.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF VDC

Paddy - 26 qt/ha.

Wheat - 18 qt/ha.

Maize - 12 qt/ha.

Mustard - 6 qt/ha.

Lentil - 6 qt/ha.

Pea - 6 qt/ha.

Cropping Intensity – 180%

Farmers can not get fertilizers and other inputs on time. Farmers do not get knowledge of good techniques. No farmers training programmes are running, so that they can not get training and apply in their field due to lack of inspection by Junior Technician and Junior Technical Assistants in the villages. There is no effect of horticultural development on production .

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