National Irrigation Master Plan.

This Bhutan’s National Irrigation Master Plan is developed as part of a broader programme on climate change adaptation through integrated water resources management. It provides a 15-year strategic framework to support the development of climate-resilient irrigation systems and irrigated agriculture, with the objective of enhancing food and nutrition security and increasing rural incomes. The Plan is based on assessments of agricultural conditions, land and water resources, policy frameworks, and climate change impacts, and is aligned with national development policies and sector strategies.
The Plan identifies challenges such as limited irrigation infrastructure, low productivity, fragmented land, and climate vulnerability, alongside opportunities including available water resources and policy support. It proposes an irrigation development roadmap combining infrastructure expansion, land development and mechanization, integrated crop and water management, and institutional strengthening. The Plan defines targets for expanding irrigated areas and increasing crop production, supported by an investment programme. It categorizes irrigation projects into short, medium, and long-term phases, detailing technical standards for canal construction, water harvesting, and micro-irrigation. Institutional measures include establishing an Irrigation and Water Management Section (IWMS) in DOA, strengthening River Basin/Dzongkhag coordination, legalizing and capacitating Water Users Associations (WUAs), and creating a Central Irrigation Maintenance Fund. The Plan introduces the Bhutan Water Security Index (BWSI) to monitor progress and emphasizes a sector-wide approach that includes participatory planning and the establishment of maintenance funds. The NIMP also incorporates cost-benefit analyses for various agro-ecological zones, seeking to modernize the country’s 1,200+ existing irrigation schemes to support sustainable rural livelihoods.