Retired Professor Introduces 'Kachalka' Irrigation System to Improve Water Efficiency in Chitwan
In Chitwan, Nepal, retired professor Dr. Bhagwan Das Manandhar has developed an innovative irrigation system called 'Kachalka' to address water wastage in agriculture. The system, which he first encountered during his PhD studies in Russia in 1993, has been implemented on his own land in Bharatpur-16, Bijaynagar. The Kachalka system uses small containers that tilt like a seesaw, ensuring water flows only when the previous container is full, thus preventing waste. This method achieves 93 percent irrigation efficiency and 95 percent uniformity in water distribution. Manandhar, who taught at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science for 23 years, left academia to focus on farming and has successfully tested the system in Italy. He aims to make this technology accessible to local farmers, offering a more affordable and durable alternative to traditional irrigation methods. 
