Prioritizing Technical Challenges and Management Strategies in Lift Irrigation Projects: An RII–Pareto Approach from Surkhet, Nepal

https://doi.org/10.46610/JOCCE.2026.v012i02.002

Abstract

Lift Irrigation Systems (LIS) are essential for agriculture in Nepal’s mid‑hills, but their performance is often limited by unresolved technical problems. In Surkhet District, Karnali Province, five LIS projects serving 447 households face recurring failures, including insufficient water intake, high silting, electromechanical issues, and budget shortages. However, systematic prioritization of these problems and their management measures has been lacking. This study identifies, ranks, and evaluates technical problems and their corresponding management strategies using a stakeholder‑driven approach. Data were collected from 38 purposively selected stakeholders (7 government officials, 9 Water Users’ Association members, 3 contractors, and 19 local farmers) via Likert‑scale questionnaires covering eight problems (P1–P8) and their management measures (M11–M71). Relative Importance Index (RII), Pareto 80/20 principle with ABC tiering, weighted RII, qualitative feasibility analysis, and a prioritization matrix (problem RII × measure RII) was applied. Category A (“vital few”) problems were: insufficient budget (P5, RII = 0.8526), insufficient water intake (P1, RII = 0.7895), frequent electromechanical issues (P3, RII = 0.7105), and high silting (P2, RII = 0.6368) – together contributing 62.01% of total problem RII. Top‑ranked management measures were: regular tax collection (M52, RII = 0.8421), selection of sump well location (M15, RII = 0.9474), sump well location for silting (M22, RII = 0.8632), and routine maintenance (M32, RII = 0.8105). Feasibility analysis indicated that M52 and M15 are highly feasible (low to medium cost, low to medium complexity), while deep excavation (M13) is costlier. The prioritization matrix confirmed that measures addressing Category A problems have the highest combined impact. The RII–Pareto framework successfully identified the “vital few” technical problems, enabling targeted resource allocation. Recommended actions include implementing M52 and M15 in all five projects, establishing routine maintenance (M32), and using the ABC tiering for annual reviews. The approach is replicable for other LIS projects in Nepal’s mid‑hills and similar resource‑constrained settings.