PURE platform: Digital innovation for irrigation planning

Time: 10:00-12:45 | Organsiers: Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), ICIMOD, and WindPower Nepal Pvt. Ltd.

Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country, with 60% of the Nepalese population involved in agriculture. However, only 35% of irrigable land in Nepal receives year-round irrigation, compelling the remaining agricultural land to rely on seasonal rainwater. This affects agricultural productivity, particularly in the face of increasing climate variability. Recognising these challenges, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) have developed the Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) platform, a digital decision-support tool that is designed to enable efficient planning of water lift systems, particularly in remote and mountainous regions.

PURE integrates satellite data, geographic information system (GIS) mapping, and multi-criteria assessments to identify viable sites for water-lifting systems. The platform has already demonstrated its utility through data-driven, evidence-based planning and is used for project design and implementation of renewable energy-powered lift irrigation systems in Nepal. Despite its success in project design, the awareness and institutional capacity of the key stakeholders of the three-tier government in Nepal to effectively use the tool are limited. To bridge this gap, we have organised the National level orientation programme to introduce key stakeholders to the platform’s features, benefits, and practical applications. The details  of  the programme is as follows:

Agenda