Last year, WWF-Nepal successfully completed a Climate Crowd project focusing on wetland restoration in Magar Village, located in the Kamdi Corridor. The initiative focused on removing accumulated sediment from degraded marshy land and constructing an outlet with a water gate along its edge. Sediment removal helped revive the wetland’s natural spring source, enabling consistent water recharge and year-round water storage in the pond.
Today, the restored wetland serves as a multipurpose pond and water reservoir. The stored water is used by local communities for irrigation, and some households have also begun fish and snail farming.
The new multipurpose pond irrigates agricultural land and acts as a fishery for residents of Magar Village.
Following the completion of restoration work last summer, villagers say their longstanding struggles with water scarcity have become a past sorrow. Previously, farmers depended on water pumped from a nearby river for irrigation, a costly and labor-intensive process. They had to temporarily block the river using stones and mud walls to collect water, pump it to a reservoir near the village, and finally pump it again to the irrigation canals to their fields. Despite these efforts, water was never sufficient, leaving much of the arable land barren. No one in the village used to cultivate rice, as it requires large volumes of water, and families relied on local markets to meet their demand.
The restored wetland has transformed this reality. Sufficient water is now stored in the pond, allowing efficient pumping of water directly to irrigation canals. Around 10 hectares of farmland belonging to 22 families are now irrigated regularly. For the first time, these families have successfully cultivated rice, and no household needed to purchase it from the market this year.
According to Tulsiram Budhamagar, a resident of the village and one of the lead farmers, the new system has saved villagers nearly 50 percent of their time and labor. “We no longer need to build temporary dams in the river and wait for water levels to rise,” he explained. “Now, water is diverted directly from the pond to the canals, which is much faster and easier.” Electricity consumption has also been reduced by half as less time is required for pumping, and maintenance costs for motor pumps have decreased due to reduced usage. “During peak season, a household used to pay around Rs. 11,000 per month for electricity. This year, it dropped to Rs. 6,000, and water availability is better than ever,” he added.
Purna Devi Magar stands proudly in her mustard field, fed by the multipurpose pond.
Another local resident, Tulsa Malla, shared similar opinions. “Water for irrigation is now secure in all seasons. Before the restoration, we never imagined that this degraded marshy land would become such a beautiful reservoir and change our lives. This year, we are even considering switching from maize to vegetable farming, which will allow us to earn more money.”
The restored wetland stands as a powerful example of how nature-based solutions can improve water security, reduce costs, and create new livelihood opportunities for rural communities. Learn more about the project here.
Written by Anita Adhikari, WWF-Nepal
Image credits: Rubina Karki/WWF-Nepal