In an effort to impart growth to Nepal's agricultural sector through enhanced facilities, India has assisted the Himalayan nation install 2, 700 shallow tubewells to meet irrigation needs in the Terai region.

Nepal's Minister for Irrigation Dipak Giri and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae on Thursday inaugurated the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Irrigation Project under which New Delhi gave an NRs 256.72 million (1 INR = 1.60 NR) grant to Kathmandu for procurement and installation of pumps for 2, 700 shallow tubewells (STWs) in 12 Teraian districts.

The project has been implemented in Saptari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts, an Indian embassy statement here said.

The implementation of the programme was started in January 2015 and completed in December 2016, as per the scheduled completion period of two years.

The installation of shallow tubewells in the Terai has already begun benefiting the farmers who earlier depended on rainwater for irrigation.

"Now, all-season irrigation facility is available to the farmers in these districts and this is expected to irrigate about 8,100 hectares of land.

"The project is helping in lifting the socio-economic status of a large number of farmer households by augmenting the production of wheat, rice and seasonal fruits and vegetables," the embassy said.

Recognising the potential for growth in the agriculture sector of Nepal with enhanced facilities, the Indian government has in the past extended financial assistance for installation of Deep Tubewells (DTWs) and Shallow Tubewells in various parts of the Terai region.

India has earlier installed 1,000 STWs in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts that enabled irrigation of 3,000 hectares of arable land. Similarly, 22 DTWs in four Terai districts were installed in 2008, benefiting around 1,100 farming households by ensuring irrigation in 880 hectares of land.

Likewise, 350 STWs have been installed in Siraha district with financial assistance of the Indian government, benefiting about 950 households by facilitating irrigation of 1,050 hectares of land.

The multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme has been contributing to the development of Nepal in the form of various large and small development projects, said the embassy.

These development projects, mainly in the sectors of education, health and infrastructure development, have been undertaken in response to the local needs and in partnership with the Nepal government to support socio-economic development of the country, it added.