District Profile of Banke

BANKE DISTRICT PROFILE
.
c
±
0
250
0
10
20 Kilometers
VDCs
Nepalganj Municipality
Roads
Highways
500
Kilometers
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5
2.
Natural Resources ........................................................................................................... 5
3.
4.
2.1.
Land Resources........................................................................................................ 5
2.2.
Water Resources ...................................................................................................... 6
2.3.
Agriculture ............................................................................................................... 7
2.3.1.
Crops .................................................................................................................... 7
2.3.2.
Livestock ............................................................................................................ 13
Climate and Weather Information ................................................................................ 14
3.1.
Temperature ........................................................................................................... 14
3.2.
Precipitation ........................................................................................................... 15
3.3.
Sunshine Duration ................................................................................................. 16
3.4.
Evaporation ............................................................................................................ 16
3.5.
Extreme Events ...................................................................................................... 17
Institutional Framework ................................................................................................ 19
4.1.
District Agriculture Development Office, Nepalganj, Banke ............................... 19
4.2.
District Livestock Services Office, Nepalgunj, Banke .......................................... 20
4.3.
Nepal Agricultural Research Council .................................................................... 21
4.4.
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology ......................................................... 21
4.5.
Other Relevant Organizations ............................................................................... 21
5.
Infrastructures ............................................................................................................... 22
6.
Other Information ......................................................................................................... 23
References ........................................................................................................................ 24
2
List of Figures
Figure 1 Distribution of land holding ........................................................................................ 6
Figure 2 Major Rivers in the District ......................................................................................... 6
Figure 3 Production trend of major cereal crops (MTons) ........................................................ 7
Figure 4 Productivity trend of major cereals (Source: MoAD data) ......................................... 8
Figure 5 Pocket areas developed for major crops ...................................................................... 9
Figure 6 Agricultural Market centers in Banke ....................................................................... 12
Figure 7 Minimum and maximum temperature averaged over 1981-2013 ............................. 14
Figure 8 Maximum Temperature averaged over 30 years up to 2013 (Degree Celsius) ......... 14
Figure 9 Minimum Temperature averaged over 30 years up to 2013 (Degree Celsius).......... 14
Figure 10 Maximum temperature trend in colder months (in degree Celsius) ....................... 15
Figure 11 Maximum temperature trend in warmer months (in degree Celsius) ...................... 15
Figure 122 Inter-annual rainfall variability.............................................................................. 15
Figure 13 Precipitation received in wetter months (mm/day) ................................................. 16
Figure 14 Precipitation received in drier months (mm/day) .................................................... 16
Figure 15 Sunshine hour variation over months ...................................................................... 16
Figure 16 Evaporation rates variability over months ............................................................... 16
Figure 17 VDCs at various risks of flooding ........................................................................... 17
Figure 18 VDCs with moderate impacts of wind .................................................................... 18
Figure 19 VDCs covered by each ASC ................................................................................... 19
Figure 20 Banke Road Network .............................................................................................. 22
3
List of Figures
Table 1 Irrigated area in Banke .................................................................................................. 6
Table 2 Government Irrigation projects in Banke ..................................................................... 6
Table 3 Farmers developed Irrigation project ............................................................................ 7
Table 4 Crop Rotations Followed .............................................................................................. 8
Table 5 Cropping Calender ........................................................................................................ 8
Table 6 Crop Diseases in Banke district .................................................................................... 9
Table 7 Pests in Banke District ................................................................................................ 10
Table 8 Agricultural Inputs Suppliers ...................................................................................... 11
Table 9 Average Monthly Precipitation (in mm) from 1973 through 2012 ............................ 15
Table 10 Human Resources in DADO Banke ......................................................................... 19
Table 11 Roads to major market centers.................................................................................. 22
4
1. Introduction
Banke district expands in an area of 2337 square Km between Bardiya, Salyan, and Dang
districts of Nepal and Baharaich district of India. Geographically, most (79.1%) of the district
is plain area or Terai (< 300msl) while 20.6 per cent of land is within 300 to 1000 msl. Only
0.3% of land in Chure hills in the North reaches an altitude up to 1236 msl (Barnekow et al.
2005). Banke district is a rural district with 85 per cent of its 0.49 million population (2011
CBS) living in the forty-six VDCs and only 15 per cent in Nepalgunj municipality.
Banke is among the top twenty highest paddy producing districts (0.1 million tons/year) of
the country and is ranked 15th among wheat producing districts (70 thousand tons per year)
based on data collected by MoAD averaged over last five years. Major agricultural products
exported to India from Banke include pulses, oilseeds, spices, quinoa, and herbs and was
worth NPR 5.15 million for the FY 2012/13 (DADO, Banke).
2. Natural Resources
2.1.Land Resources
Land use: Banke district houses large forest area and arable land in the district acounts for
about 25.35 per cent or 52.8 thousand ha (CBS 2011). Seventy one per cent of the cultivable
land is Khet or low land (37.8 thousand ha) and the remaining 15 thousand ha is upland area.
Agriculture in the district is predominantly rain-fed with only 21.9 per cent of the cultivable
land with intermittent irrigation facilities.
Forests account for 50.17 per cent (0.11miilion ha) of total land of the district. Major
ecosystems in the district are Sal forest, deciduous riverine forest, savannahs and grasslands,
mixed hardwood forest, flood plain community, Bhabar and foot hills of Chure range. The
major timbers in the forest are Sal, Karma, Khair and Sissoo species (DWNPC). Seven
VDCs1 of the district are designated as the buffer zone VDCs of the national park.
The district is also known for its herbs
production. Some of the cultivated herbs are
Chamomile and mentha.
Land holding structure:
In Banke district, small holder farmers having
less than 1 ha of land predominate (75.19%).
Next majority (22.96%) own 1-3 ha land holding
(not necessarily in single parcel). Majority of the
land (51.06 %) is divided into 1-3 ha holdings
while 39.19 per cent of land is divided into less
than 1 ha holding (Figure 1).
1
Khaskusum, Kanchanpur, Mahadevpuri, Kohalpur, Chisapani, Navbasta, and Rajhena
5
Figure 1 Distribution of land holding
2.2.Water Resources
Major rivers in Banke district are
Rapti, Maan, and Daduwa rivers.
Other important streams and rivers
of the district are Kiran, Rohini,
Jhinjhari, Gaduwa, Khairi, Gothari,
and Jethi. The major rivers and
other rivulets flows through 24
VDCs providing access to some
0
5
10
20
Kilometers
Rivers
forms of irrigation while also
Nepalganj Municipality
VDCs
putting the villagers at the risk of
flooding (flooding risk will be discussed shortly). In addition to that some of the lakes
supplying water to the district are Raani, Waterpark taal, and Kantipur. Banke has been
exploring its groundwater resources including that for shallow tube-well irrigation.
±
Figure 2 Major Rivers in the District
Irrigation infrastructure: In
Banke, 21.9 per cent of the cultivable land
is irrigated. Groundwater irrigation system
is fairly well developed that covers 63.5 per
cent of the irrigated area in the district
(Table1). The rivers, lakes and ponds cover
another 30.2 per cent of the irrigated area.
SN
1
2
3
4
Types
Rivers/Lakes/Ponds
Dam/Reservoir
Tube well/Boring
Others
Total
Area (ha)
6770
361.1
14242.6
1031.2
22404.9
Table 1 Irrigated area in Banke
(Source: Irrigation inventory Report)
Government has been developing surface and ground water irrigation facilities in the district
that cover 3552 ha (Table 2).
Table 2 Government Irrigation projects in Banke
SN Project
Surface water irrigation systems
Danduwa
1
Puraniya Lake
2
Suruwa lake
3
Chapala Stream
4
Fatepur Irrigation Project
5
Underground irrigation systems
I.D.P
1
NISP and others
2
Shallow tube-well
3
Total
Irrigated Land
500
50
50
200
700
600
1045
407
3552
(Source: Irrigation Inventory report Mid-Western Irrigation Development Division no. 2)
6
Similarly, farmers have developed irrigation systems that cover 6870 ha (Table 3).
Table 3 Farmers developed Irrigation project
SN Irrigation Project
Danduwa
1
Chisapani Naubasta
2
Paruwa
3
Ghumaiya
4
Kiran nala
5
Nibuwa
6
Thure
7
SuryaPatuwa
8
Betahani
9
10 Jhijhari baghsal
11 Baniyabhar
12 Maankhola lift
13 Ghiya Taal
14 Kiran Nala
15 Raajkulo
16 Fatehpur
17 Underground Irrigation Project
Total
VDCs
6 VDCs
Naubasta
Kachanapur
Binauna
Radhapur
Kohalpur
Mahadevpuri
Thakurdwara
Betahani
Mahadevpuri
Naubasta
Chisapani
Raniyapur
Radhapur
Baijapur
Fatehpur
Command Area (ha)
1400
100
100
100
100
150
100
1350
150
80
100
35
120
215
700
1470
600
6870
(Source: Irrigation Inventory report Mid-Western Irrigation Development Division no. 2)
2.3.Agriculture
2.3.1. Crops
Major Crops: Major cereal crops produced in Banke are paddy, wheat, corn, lentil, horsegram, mustard, potatoes, mangoes, and banana. Major herbs cultivated in the district are
chamomile and menthe.
Total cereal produced in the district was 0.16 million while pulses and oilseed production in
the district was 13,655 tons and
9,266 tons respectively in
2009/10. Total vegetables
production in the district
including potatoes was 0.12
million tons in the same year.
About 10,000 tons of mangoes
and 700 tons of bananas were
produced from respectively 854
ha and 59 ha of orchards.
Productivity of mangoes and
bananas in the district were 10.77
tons/ha and 11.86 tons/ha
respectively in 2009/2010.
Figure 3 Production trend of major cereal crops (MTons)
7
Productivity of rice is predominantly governed by rainfall and fluctuated between 0.8 tons/ha
to 3.4 tons/ha in last twenty-three years while productivity of maize shows a constant
increase and reached from 0.1
tons/ha in the FY 1998/99 to the
highest of 3.1 tons/ha in 2012/2013
(MoAD Data). Productivity of wheat
is increasing in the district except for
certain years such as in 2009/10
attributed to shortfall of winter rain
(Figure 4).
Figure 4 Productivity trend of major cereals (Source: MoAD data)
Cropping patterns and crop calendar: Main crop of Banke is rice and is cultivated in
rotation with wheat, maize, oilseeds, pulses and/or vegetable crops. In irrigated land
generally three crops are taken per year while in semi-irrigated land and land without
irrigation facilities, two crops are cultivated. Some of the crop rotations followed are in Table
2.
Table 4 Crop Rotations Followed
Irrigated
Rice-Wheat-Pulses
Rice-potato-maize
Rice-maize-vegetables
Rice-wheat-maize
Semi-irrigated
Rice-wheat-fallow
Maize-mustard/lentil
Unirrigated
Maize-mustard
Table 5 Cropping Calender
Crops
Sowing
(Month)
Other Operations
Activities
Months
Harvest
(Month)
Rice
Wheat
8
Major pocket areas developed in Banke: Pocket areas for major crops such as potatoes,
lentil and commercial vegetables have
been developed in Banke in several
VDCs (Figure 5). In Bageswori and
!
[
Khajurakhurd VDCs pockets have
been developed for Lentil as well as
!
[
commercial vegetables.
±
[
!
[
!
[
[
Potato Pockets
!
[
Lentil Pockets
Vegetables and Lentil Pockets
0
10
Commercial Vegetable Pockets
Agriculture Service Centers
District Agriculture Development Office, Nepalgunj, Banke
20
Kilometers
Figure 5 Pocket areas developed for major crops
Diseases and pest management: DADO coordinates with farmers, line agencies and
private sector in addressing pests and diseases in the district. Major diseases and pests and
frequency of their occurrences are in Table 6 and 7. DADO runs integrated pest management
schools every year and has developed IPM facilitators in the district.
Table 6 Crop Diseases in Banke district
SN Group
Crops
1
Rice
2
3
Cereals
Name
false smut
bacterial blight
sheath blight
brown leaf spot
rice blast
khaira disease
Wheat
yellow rust
loose smut
blight
Maize
leaf blight
maize rust
Oilseed
alternate leaf spot
crops
powdery mildew
Pulses
Arhar/Horse- wilt
gram/lentil
Vegetables Tomato
wilt
damping off
late blight
early blight
Severity (in 2011/12)
High
Medium Low
X
X
X
X
X
9
Potato
Cabbage &
Cauliflower
Cucurbit
4
Fruits
Chilli
Mango
Banana
Jackfruit
stem rot
late blight
early blight
common scab
mosaic virus
stem rot
ring rot
damping off
alternate leaf spot
powdery mildew
downy mildew
virus
mosaic virus
anthracnose
bunchy top
banana wilt
leaf spot
heart rot
Fruit rot
X
X
X
X
Table 7 Pests in Banke District
SN Group
Crops
Insects
Name
high
1 Cereals
rice bug
rice stem borer
rice leaf roller
bph
Wheat
termite
aphid
Maize
cutworm
stem borer
grasshopper
maize aphids
2 Oil Crops Mustard
aphid
3 Pulses
Arhar/Lentil pod borer
3 Vegetables Potato
potato tuber moth
cut worm
Tomato
tomato fruit borer
Cabbage
cabbage butterfly
&Cauliflower aphid
Severity
medium low
Paddy
X
10
Cucurbits
4 Fruits
Banana
red pumpkin beetle
fruit fly
spot and fruit borer
mango hopper
shoot gall maker
mango millibug
mango fruit fly
banana stem weevil
Litchi
leaf and fruit searing
beetle
rhizome weevil
leaf curl mite
Brinjal
Mango
X
X
X
X
Soil type.
Market
Production Costs
Prices:
Marketing Infrastructure: Farmers in Banke procure agricultural inputs and sell their
outputs through agricultural produce markets, haat bazar, agro/vets, collection centers and
other markets. There are 179 registered agricultural inputs and produce suppliers in the
district (Table 8).
Table 8 Agricultural Inputs Suppliers
SN Agricultural Inputs Suppliers
1. Rice, pulses, Flour, Oil and
other food
2. Agro-vets
3. Source Centers(fruits nursery,
fish nursery et cetera)
4. Fertilizer suppliers
Total
Total
28
34
14
103
179
11
Eight agricultural collection
centers and twelve haat
bazaars are operating in
Banke district. Haat bazaars
are held twice a week (in 4
VDCs), weekly (in 7 VDCs)
and fortnightly (in
Kachanapur VDC). Markets
are well established in
Nepalganj, Kohalpur, and
Khajura while in market
centers are being developed
in Kamdi, Kusum,
Chisapani, Chaulika,
Banakatwa, Betahani,
Rajha, and Jamunaha.
n
n
n
±
b
n
n
n
b
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
b
n
Markets
Haat Bazaars
Highways
Roads
VDCs
0
10
Nepalganj Municipality
20
Kilometers
Figure 6 Agricultural Market centers in Banke
12
2.3.2. Livestock
Major livestock of the district
Major fodder produced
Diseases Recorded
Market Infrastructure and Price
Livestock Insurance
13
3. Climate and Weather Information
Banke district is a tropical district. Maximum and minim temperature recorded in the district
are 46 °C and 4.2 °C. Maximum rainfall recorded in the district was 1912 mm. Average wind
speed is 3km/hour and average relative humidity in the district is 71.4 per cent (DHM
records).
3.1.Temperature
May is the hottest month (37.51°C
maximum temperature averaged
over 1983-2013) and January is the
coldest (7.38°C min temperature
averaged over 1981-2013) month in
Banke district. December, January
and February are the coldest
months: the minimum temperature
ranges from 5.89 to 12.62°C and
the maximum temperature ranges
from 15.8°C to 28.9°C during these
Figure 7 Minimum and maximum temperature averaged over 1981-2013
months. April, May and June are the
hottest months and the maximum temperature ranges from 35.42°C to 40.45°C while the
minimum temperature recorded at Khajura station during these months ranges from 15.00 to
28.6°C (Figure 7-11).
Figure 8 Maximum Temperature averaged over 30
years up to 2013 (Degree Celsius)
Figure 9 Minimum Temperature averaged over 30
years up to 2013 (Degree Celsius)
14
Figure 10 Maximum temperature trend in colder
months (in degree Celsius)
Figure 11 Maximum temperature trend in warmer
months (in degree Celsius)
3.2. Precipitation
Average annual rainfall received in the district is 1368.73mm and DHM records shows the
lowest of 822.4 mm in 1996 and a maximum of 2429.2 mm in 1981 (Figure 9). Precipitation
data for the past 23 years show increasing annual rainfall variability. Monthly average rainfall
received ranges from a minimum of 4.7 mm in the driest month November to 412 mm in the
wettest month, July (Figure 10). Maximum rain falls in the months of June and July that
ranges from 115 to 1079.9mm. Average rainfall observed over 1973through 2012 ranges
from 405.97 to 587.54mm (Table 9).
Figure 122 Inter-annual rainfall variability
Figure 13 Annual rainfall variability
Table 9 Average Monthly Precipitation (in mm) received in Banke from 1973 through 2012
Year Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Max 82.00 79.50 74.80 42.70 143.40 444.20
Mean 21.63 23.14 11.48 13.96 62.38 189.48
Min
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00 50.70
Jul
982.90
412.60
160.40
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
584.80 594.20 241.40 42.70 81.80
346.07 222.19 50.45 4.71 12.00
138.40 52.50
0.00 0.00 0.00
Source: Based on DHM Observations
Pre-monsoon precipitation of 189.48mm on an average is received in June and the recorded
maximum for the past 23 years is 444.2mm. Similarly, post monsoon month September is
comparatively wet month that receives an average of 222.19mm rainfall. Monthly rainfall
variability over the years in wetter months and drier months are in Figures 14 and 15.
15
Figure 14 Precipitation received in drier months
(mm/day)
Figure 13 Precipitation received in wetter months
(mm/day)
3.3.
Sunshine Duration
Banke district is fairly sunny district with
sunshine hours ranging from 5.04(in
January) to 9.4 hours (in May). In
monsoon season (July-September)
sunshine hours ranges from 5.2 to 6.2
hours per day. Similarly, in winter
months, sunshine hours are comparatively
low ranging from 5.0 to 6.4 hours per day.
In the past 14 years, minimum and
maximum numbers of sunshine hours
received in Banke were respectively 2.99
hours and 10.4 hours.
3.4.
Figure 15 Sunshine hour variation over months (Source: DHM
observations 1999-2012 at Nepalgunj airport)
Evaporation
Recent evaporation data is not available for Banke.
From the historical data collected in between 1981
through 1986, evaporation rate in the district varied
from a minimum of 2.04mm per day in January to
7.95mm in June. During the period, a minimum of
1.66 mm to a maximum of 9.85mm of evaporation
was recorded at Khajura station.
Figure 16 Evaporation rates variability over months
16
3.5. Extreme Events
C
hi
sa
pa
ni
Flood
Flood events are common in monsoon season in Banke district attributed to its geographical
conditions with elevated Chure region in the north and many seasonal rivers flow into the
plain damaging paddy fields and properties. Only Rapti River among the rivers2 in Banke has
water flow throughout the year. Rapti, Maan, and other streams flowing south from Chure
puts Gangapur, Matahiya, Phatepur, Binauna, Baijapur, Kachanapur etc. at flooding risk
(Banke district disaster preparedness response plan, 2013). According to the DPR plan, eight
VDCs are at high risk of flooding, while 29 VDCS are at moderate risk of flooding (Figure
19). In 2007, flood affected 1543 ha of land, damaged 2293 MT of food, and killed 7 human
lives and 571 livestock (DPRP 2013). Flood is estimated to damage up to 1300 ha of arable
land, 11500 MT of food, and 700 livestock.
ur
ta
a lp
bas
en
a
jh
iriy
Ra
ih
Tit
.
Ko
h
a
N au
Banakatawa
Mahadevpuri
Raniyapur
Samserganj
Sonapur
Udarapur Bageswari Ganapur
Sit
KhajuraKhurda
BelahariManikapur
ap
ur
IndrapurBasudevapur
RadhapurBelbhar
NepalgunjN.P.Puraini
Saigaun
Puraina Banakatti
Paraspur Udayapur
Jaispur
Betahani
BhawaniyapurHirminiya
H
ol
un
te
Pha
na
Bi
Kam
d
i
Kanchanapur
a
p ur
Khaskusma
Bejapur
iy
a
Flood Vulnerability
Low
Moderate
High
ya
Ka
th
k ui
ur
man
p
Lax
Na
r ai
na
pu
ah
Gangapur
at
M
r
iy
a
Kalaphanta
0
10
20 Kilometers
Figure 17 VDCs at various risks of flooding
2
Major rivers-Rapti, Maan, and Daduwa and others- Kiran, Rohini, Jhinjhari, Gaduwa, Khairi, Gothari, and
Jethi
17
Wind: Wind impacts is ranked moderate in twenty-two VDCs as shown in Figure 19 and the
rest are considered safe. Wind impacts in crops have not been recorded to be significant in
Banke.
C
an
i
.
ta
lpu
r
ba s
Ko
ha
Nau
p
sa
hi
Banakatawa
Mahadevpuri
di
Kanchanapur
Kam
Bageswari
KhajuraKhurdaBelahari
un
a
Bejapur
pu
r
a
Na
ra i
na
Banakatti
Jaispur
Bhawaniyapur Betahani
H
ol
iy
na
Bi
Indrapur
Belbhar Basudevapur
Kathkuiya
Moderate Vulnerability to Wind
VDCs
0
10
20 Kilometers
Figure 18 VDCs with moderate impacts of wind
18
4. Institutional Framework
4.1.District Agriculture Development Office, Nepalganj, Banke
District agriculture development office(DADO) Banke implements programs through its
seven sections namely, agriculture extension, crop development, horticulture development,
plant protection, fisheries development, planning, monitoring and evaluation and market
development, and administration and account sections. Human resources and infrastructure
and facilities in DADO office is enlisted in Tables 10 and 11 respectively.
Table 10 Human Resources in DADO Banke
SN
Positions
i.
Senior Agriculture Development officer
Technical Units
ii.
Horticulture development officer
iii.
Agriculture extension officer
iv.
Plant protection officer
v.
Planning officer
vi.
Crop development officer
vii.
Fisheries development officer
viii.
Technical assistants
ix.
Deputy technical assistants
Administration Unit
x.
Non Gazetted first class
xi.
Accountant
xii.
Typist
xiii.
Non-gazetted second class
xiv.
Drivers
xv.
Messengers
Numbers Remarks
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
7
10
1
1
1
1
1
10
Infrastructure
SN
1
2
3
4
5
6
Property/equipment Remarks
Buildings
17
Laboratory
Computers
7
Telecommunication
Video conferencing
Monitors (for
displaying advisory)
At local level, DADO has four
agriculture service centers and three
contact points. Each ASC is responsible
to reach out farmers from eight to
twelve VDCs. Figure illustrates the
ASCs and VDCs covered.
Kohalpur
[
!
±
Bageswari
[
!
c
Udayapur
[
!
Narainapur
[
!
0
5
10
20
Kilometers
[
!
c
Agriculture Service Centers
District Agriculture Development Office
VDCs under Narainapur ASC
VDCs under Bageswori ASC
VDCs under Kohalpur ASC
VDCs under Udayapur ASC
Banke District
Figure 19 VDCs covered by each ASC
19
4.2.District Livestock Services Office, Nepalgunj, Banke
Human Resources
Infrastructure
Livestock Service Centers and Service Sub-Centers
20
4.3. Nepal Agricultural Research Council
Regional agriculture research station, Khajura is a multidisciplinary research station
responsible for conducting research on cereals, legumes and oil seed commodities,
horticultural crops including grapes as well as pasture and goat. The research station has 57
ha of land at their disposal for conducting field research. Major achievements of the research
station so far are rice varieties for drought and submergence conditions. Sukkha Dhan (1,2,3)
and IR82635(B-B-145-1, B-39_3, B-B-68-B) etc. are some of the drought tolerant varieties
while Shambha Mashuri sub-1, Sworna sub-1 for cultivation in submerged conditions.
Similarly, the station has contributed towards developing black/stem rust resistant variety
Ug99 and identified number of wilt root rot resistant genotypes in lentil, chick pea and pigeon
pea. Superior genotypes have also been identified for cucumber, potatoes, squash and
turmeric.
The station is headed by regional director and supported by six scientists and two senior
technical officers. The research station has four outreach sites Betahani, Banke,
Mohammadpur, Bardia, Sathbariya, Dang and Masuria, Kailali. More information on the
research station can be found at (http://narc.gov.np/org/rars_khajura.php).
4.4.Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
Department of hydrology and meteorology (DHM) has a regional office at Nepalgunj that
looks over the meteorological stations in the region. In Banke, there are five meteorological
stations at Kusum, Khajura, Naubasta, Sikta, and Baijapur. The stations at Sikta and Khajura
are agro-meteorological stations while the other stations measure precipitation only.
Currently Khajura collects data on precipitation, temperature, evaporation, wind speed and
soil temperature. Sunshine duration measurement instrument is not functioning at this station.
In Sikta precipitation and temperatures parameters measured. The rest of the instruments are
not functioning in this agro-met station.
4.5.Other Relevant Organizations
21
5. Infrastructures
Transportation: Banke is connected to Kathmandu through Nepalgunj airport and has a
good road network within the district. All the VDCs of Banke have access to roads and are
connected to the district headquarter Nepalgunj. The district has total of 474 km of road out
of which 177km is black-topped road, 110km is graveled road and the rest is seasonal road
(CBS). Khaskusma is the farthest (62 Km) VDC
Figure 20 Banke Road Network
from Nepalgunj. Fifty percent of the VDCs (20)
are within 10 Km from the district headquarters.
.
Half of the district has some Black-topped all
weather roads while the other half is connected
by gravel roads and seasonal mud-roads.
Altogether 19 VDCs have bus services from
Nepalgunj. Most of the VDCs East of Rapti are
remote and inaccessible.
Roads
Ratna Highway
Mahendra Highway
VDCs
Nepalganj Municipality
Table 11 Roads to major market centers
SN
Nepalganj to
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Piprahawa
Khaskarkand
Puaraini
Puraina
Jayashpur
Saigaun
Manikapur
Khajurakhurd
Ganapur
Bageswori
Samshergunj
Sonpur
Udharapur
Kohalpur
Rajhena
Raniyapur
Titihiriya
Bankatawa
Naubasta
Mahadevpuri
Chisapani
Kachanapur
Khaskusma
Road
(KM)
3
3
5
5
5
6
7
7
8
12
13
13
14
16
17
17
18
19
24
26
26
30
62
Road type
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Black-top
Servi
ce
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
Bus
SN
Nepalganj to
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Paraspur
Udayapur
Basudevpur
Indrapur
Belbhar
Bhabaniyapur
Belahari
Hirminiya
Kamdi
Betahani
Banakatti
Radhapur
Sitapur
Holiya
Fattepur
Gangapur
Matehiya
Binauna
Baijapur
Narainapur
Kalaphanta
Laxmanpur
Kutkuyiya
0
Road
(KM)
2
3
3
3
4
5
7
9
10
10
10
16
16
17
20
20
21
29
32
32
35
42
45
10
20 Kilometers
Road type
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Servi
ce
Bus
Bus
(Sources: CBS district profile Banke and DADo district profile)
22
Communication: Banke district has well developed modes of information/communications
that includes internet facilities, telephone services, radio and television, as well as national
and local newspapers (eleven daily, weekly, bimonthly) in the towns while VDCs are well
covered by telephone and radio services. Nepalgunj has eight and Kohalpur has two local
radio stations.
District post office provides postal services to the district through its eleven Illaka post office
and 35 other postal branch offices in the district.
Thirty nine VDCs have landline services and forty-five VDCs of the district are covered
through CDMA mobile phone services provided by NTC, while mobile service is also
provided by Ncell- a private company in the district. There are two internet service providers
in the district and more than 2000 subscribers.
Electricity: Banke has electricity supply in thirty five VDCs and in Nepalgunj. Thirty four
per cent of the district’s population has access to electricity (CBS).
Financial Institutions: There are fifteen financial institutions providing financial services
to Bankees. Eight of the banks are commercial banks, four development banks, two
cooperatives and ne rural development bank (CBS). Thirteen insurance companies provided
crop insurance services in the FY2013-14.
6. Other Information
Education: About 60 per cent of Bankees are literate and male literacy rate (66.36%) is
about 15 per cent higher than female literacy rate (49.38%). Nepalgunj and Kohalpur area
have more than 65 per cent literacy rate and male literary rate is more than 75 per cent in the
areas.
Altogether Banke has 287 educational institutions including 5 vocational training institutions.
There are three colleges and the rest are high schools and under.
Employment:
In Banke, 49.78 per cent of populations are economically active (CBS report).According to
the report; farm workers constitute 35 per cent of the employed, while farm and non-farm
based elementary occupation holders, service workers, and craft and trade share respectively
23 %, 16 % and 13% of the economically active population. Only 3.4 per cent of populations
are technicians and professionals in the district according to CBS.
Languages: Main languages used in Banke are Nepali (35%), Awadhi(44%), Tharu(15%)
and Urdu the rest use Magar, Hindi, and other local dialects.
23
References
Annual agriculture development program and statistics booklet. District Agriculture
Development Office, Banke.
Banke District Disaster preparedness response plan, 2013.
Barnekow Lillesø, J-P., Shrestha, T. B., Dhakal, L. P., Nayaju, R. P., & Shrestha, R. (2005).
The map of potential vegetation of Nepal: a forestry/agro-ecological/biodiversity
classification system Copenhagen University: Center for Landscape Architecture and
Planning (Development and Environment; No. 2/2005).
Current status of Banke district. Statistics Office, Banke.
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Khajura (http://narc.gov.np/org/rars_khajura.php
accessed Feb 4, 2015)
Data and Statistics obtained from Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS)
Data and Statistics obtained from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM)
Data and Statistics obtained from Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD)
Spatial data downloaded from International Center for Integrated Mountain Development
(ICIMOD)
24