Publications

@article{PANDEY2023108287,
title = {Implementing conjunctive management of water resources for irrigation development: A framework applied to the Southern Plain of Western Nepal},
author = {Vishnu Prasad Pandey and Nirman Shrestha and Anton Urfels and Anupama Ray and Manohara Khadka and Paul Pavelic and Andrew J McDonald and Timothy J Krupnik},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742300152X},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108287},
issn = {0378-3774},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-03},
journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
volume = {283},
pages = {108287},
abstract = {Climate variability and insufficient irrigation are primary constraints to stable and higher agricultural productivity and food security in Nepal. Agriculture is the largest global freshwater user, and integration of surface- and ground-water use is frequently presented as an strategy for increasing efficiency as well as climate change adaptation. However, conjunctive management (CM) planning often ignores demand-side requirements and a broader set of sustainable development considerations, including ecosystem health and economics of different development strategies. While there is generic understanding of conjunctive use, detailed technical knowhow to realize the CM is lacking in Nepal. This article presents a holistic framework through literature reviews, stakeholders consultations and expert interviews for assessing CM and implementation prospects from a systems-level perspective. We demonstrate the framework through a case study in Western Nepal, where climatic variability and a lack of irrigation are key impediments to increased agricultural productivity and sustainable development. Results show that knowledge of water resources availability is good and that of water demand low in the Western Terai. Additional and coordinated investments are required to improve knowledge gaps as well as access to irrigation. There is therefore a need to assess water resources availability, water access, use and productivity, to fill the knowledge gaps in order to pave pathways for CM. This paper also discusses some strategies to translate prospects of conjunctive management into implementation.},
keywords = {Climate change, Conjunctive management, Conjunctive use, Groundwater, Water policy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{KHATIWADA2019100239,
title = {Characterization of hydro-meteorological drought in Nepal Himalaya: A case of Karnali River Basin},
author = {Kabi Raj Khatiwada and Vishnu Prasad Pandey},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212094718302044},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2019.100239},
issn = {2212-0947},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Weather and Climate Extremes},
volume = {26},
pages = {100239},
abstract = {Himalayan river basin is marked by a complex topography with limited observational data. In the context of increasing extreme events, this study aims to characterize drought events in the Karnali River Basin (KRB). Firstly, historical data for 34-years (1981–2014) from ten different stations were analyzed to compute following drought indices: Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI), Self-Calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI), Standardized Streamflow Index (SFI), and Palmer Hydrological Drought Severity Index (PHDI). Among them, SPI is able to capture the drought duration and intensity fairly well with the others. Secondly, SPI was used to analyse the drought of the entire basin. The SPI analysis showed occurrence of major drought events in the recent years: 1984–85, 1987–88, 1992–93, 1994–95, 2004–09, and 2012. The winter drought of 1999, 2006, 2008–09 were widespread and the monsoon drought is increasing its frequency. No particular pattern of drought was observed from the historical data; however, yield sensitivity index revealed that precipitation pattern and anomaly is influencing crop yield in the area. Being the first study revealing prevalence of the drought in KRB, it can provide a basis for prioritizing interventions focused on drought management in the region.},
keywords = {Climate change, Drought indices, Karnali river basin, Meteorological drought, Nepal, Precipitation anomaly, Yield sensitivity index},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{Manandhar2012,
title = {Hydro-climatic trends and people's perceptions: Case of Kali Gandaki River Basin, Nepal},
author = {Sujata Manandhar and Vishnu Prasad Pandey and Futaba Kazama},
doi = {10.3354/cr01108},
issn = {0936577X},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-01-01},
journal = {Climate Research},
volume = {54},
number = {2},
pages = {167--179},
abstract = {Water resources, especially snow-fed rivers, are vulnerable to climate change. Water resources management requires analysis of both hydro-climatic trends and people's perception of climate change. We used available data to assess hydro-climatic trends, and household surveys to assess perceptions of climate change and its effects, in the snow-fed Kali Gandaki River Basin (KGRB) in western Nepal. The methodology consisted of: (1) definition and calculation of climate variability indices, (2) assessment of people's perception of climate change, (3) analysis of river flow variability and (4) discussion and summary of the spatial variation in climatic trends, peoples' perceptions, and the effects of climate change. The results showed a greater warming trend at higher altitude, while precipitation indices showed variable trends. Increasing temperature at high altitudes has affected pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and minimum discharges in the Kali Gandaki River. Household surveys in the Mustang district indicate that people's perception of climate change is consistent with climate data. They are concerned about the prevailing effects on water resources, ecological systems, agriculture and livelihoods. This will facilitate water resources planning and management in the basin. textcopyright Inter-Research 2012.},
keywords = {Climate change, Hydro-climatic trends, Kali Gandaki River Basin, Perception, Snow-fed river},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}