Question 1 What is the issue, and why does it matter?
The provincial plan names the failure to raise agricultural production and productivity as the first of its main problems, and says investment in irrigation and modern farming was not enough during the first plan.1
The choice is how to improve outcomes in this province, who benefits first, and which institution can act. The figures below belong to the stated reporting period; they are not a real-time measure of today’s conditions.
Question 2 What do current law and policy say?
Federal: Large central irrigation projects (Sch. 5 item 14). Provincial: Agriculture and livestock development; province-level irrigation (Sch. 6 items 7, 20). Local: Agriculture, animal husbandry and extension; local irrigation (Sch. 8 items 11, 15, 18); agriculture shared by all levels (Sch. 9 item 4).2
Federal: Customs and excise; international trade, ports and quarantine; international borders (Sch. 5 items 7, 9, 18). Provincial: Intra-province trade; industry, trade and business (Sch. 6 items 11, 20). Local: Local market management; business tax (Sch. 8 items 4, 10).2
Provincial executive power rests with the Council of Ministers. The Chief of Province (governor) performs constitutional and legal functions, generally on the Council’s recommendation and consent; the governor is not the department delivering these services. Provincial revenue and expenditure estimates go to the Provincial Assembly.3
Question 3 What is known, uncertain or disputed?
Known
The provincial plan names the failure to raise agricultural production and productivity as the first of its main problems, and says investment in irrigation and modern farming was not enough during the first plan.1
Uncertain
A province-wide number does not identify the worst-served wards or prove the same problem in every municipality. Before spending, establish a current local baseline, service quality, staffing, access barriers and the full operating cost.
Disputed
The policy choice is how to balance universal access, concentrated investment, affordability and fiscal sustainability. The alternatives below are Policy Nepal’s discussion options derived from the problem evidence, not claims that officials or parties have endorsed them.
Questions 4–5 What are the options, and what do they cost and achieve?
Options are listed in no particular order. Policy Nepal does not recommend one; real policies often combine them.
A
Improve reliability before expanding subsidies1
Repair irrigation and extension services, test input quality and improve market information with farmer groups.
Benefits
- Can reduce avoidable crop loss and production uncertainty.
Costs
- Needs technicians, maintenance and timely input delivery.
Trade-offs
- Irrigation expansion without water accounting can disadvantage downstream users.
What does implementation require?
- Record functional irrigation days, extension visits and net farm returns; check whether tenants and women farmers can participate.
Build viable storage and market connections1
Assess demand, operating costs and buyers before funding storage, collection centres or processing plants.
Benefits
- Can reduce seasonal distress sales and strengthen bargaining.
Costs
- Energy, management, transport and quality control must be financed after construction.
Trade-offs
- Unused buildings or monopolistic buyers can leave farmers worse off.
What does implementation require?
- Require a viable operating plan and transparent access rules; publish utilisation and prices received by participating farmers.
Combining options
Start with a verified baseline and maintenance of functioning services, then test additional investment against the same outcomes. Publish who pays for capital costs, recurring costs and any household charges; an unfunded operating plan is not a sustainable solution.
Question 6 Who is responsible?
Shared
Agriculture and irrigationFederal: Large central irrigation projects (Sch. 5 item 14). Provincial: Agriculture and livestock development; province-level irrigation (Sch. 6 items 7, 20). Local: Agriculture, animal husbandry and extension; local irrigation (Sch. 8 items 11, 15, 18); agriculture shared by all levels (Sch. 9 item 4).2
Shared
Trade, customs and the borderFederal: Customs and excise; international trade, ports and quarantine; international borders (Sch. 5 items 7, 9, 18). Provincial: Intra-province trade; industry, trade and business (Sch. 6 items 11, 20). Local: Local market management; business tax (Sch. 8 items 4, 10).2
Provincial
Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and Provincial AssemblyProvincial executive power rests with the Council of Ministers. The Chief of Province (governor) performs constitutional and legal functions, generally on the Council’s recommendation and consent; the governor is not the department delivering these services. Provincial revenue and expenditure estimates go to the Provincial Assembly.3
Question 7 What have parties and leaders said and done?
What was said or promised is shown apart from what was recorded as done. Every entry needs a dated source. A missing entry means the position is not established, not that someone opposes or is neutral.
This dossier presents official evidence and research options. It does not assign a position to a chief minister, governor, mayor or political party without a dated source specific to this issue.
Said or promised
Position not established in reviewed sources.
Recorded actions and outcomes
Position not established in reviewed sources.
Question 8 What would progress look like, and when do we check again?
IndicatorLatest official figureOfficial targetRevisit
Net farm returns and post-harvest losses by crop and season1
Not established
No official target found
2026-10-20
Functional irrigation and utilisation of supported facilities1
Not established
No official target found
2026-10-20
Sources
Grouped by type of evidence. Government plans show what government intends; they are not proof of results. Party material shows what a party says.
Constitution & law
- The Constitution of Nepal (English translation, as amended by the Second Amendment, 2020), Schedules 4–9 — Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal, Promulgated 20 September 2015; amended 28 February 2016 and 18 June 2020 (as stated in the document). Schedule 4, list for 'Province No. 5', pp. 190–192; Schedule 5 (federal) items 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 34, pp. 193–195; Schedule 6 (provincial) items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20, pp. 196–197; Schedule 7 (federal–provincial concurrent) items 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 23, 25, pp. 198–199; Schedule 8 (local) items 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, pp. 200–201; Schedule 9 (all three levels) items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, p. 202. Checked 2026-10-11
- Constitution of Nepal, English translation with first and second amendments — Nepal Law Commission. Articles 162, 166, 207–208; Schedules 6–9. English translation; Nepali text authoritative.. Checked 2026-10-13
Government plans & policy
- लुम्बिनी प्रदेशको दोस्रो आवधिक योजना (आ.व. २०८१/८२–२०८५/८६) (Second Periodic Plan) — Lumbini Province Planning Commission, Lumbini Province Government, 2081/82 BS (plan period 2081/82–2085/86). 1.4 review of first plan (Gautam Buddha International Airport's effect), printed p. 3 (PDF p. 16); 2.2 main problems and 2.3 opportunities and challenges, printed pp. 6–8 (PDF pp. 19–21); 5.3 tourism (background, 283 destinations, problems, opportunities incl. Tilaurakot and Ramgram World Heritage nomination process), printed pp. 70–72 (PDF pp. 83–85). Checked 2026-10-11
Change history
- 2026-10-13 — Expanded the province challenge into the same eight-question format as national issues. (Regional issues deserve equally accessible evidence, options, responsibilities and tracking. Original dates and sources retained; policy options are editorial proposals.)
