Victory for Nepali Peasants – Productive Land Restored

The detrimental effects of an irrigation project by the Nepali government, which, through water seepage had turned large parts of productive land into wetlands unfit for cultivation, were finally reversed. 

The Nepali Ministry of Irrigation built a system of irrigation facilities between 1988/89 aimed at increasing agricultural production. However, due to continuous seepage from the irrigation canal and consequent water logging, approximately 616 hectares of productive land were converted into wetlands. Since 2002 the water logged area has increased steadily in size, eventually forcing the peasants to cease the cultivation of their land resulting in a loss of production, displacement, and youth migration. 

A complaint filed by the affected people to the Irrigation Minister in 2010 did not result in any action by the state of Nepal, which was therefore in violation of its obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human right to adequate food.

In May 2013, after the continuous struggle of the affected communities of Beldadi, with support of the local NGO, Youth Acting for Change (YAC Nepal) and FIAN International, the Nepali government initiated a drainage project in the area, which has already succeeded in returning 400 hectares of land this year to cultivability. FIAN welcomes the government’s actions regarding the rehabilitation of land as well as its decision to work together with YAC Nepal in overseeing the implementation process.

“The Beldadi community has finally seen the restoration of their lands, as it is their human right. We will work together with the government to ensure effective implementation until the reconstruction work is completed,” said YAC Nepal Right to Food Project Coordinator, Tilak Adhikari.  

FIAN will continue to work together with the community and local organizations to monitor the implementation process.