Impacts of Climate Change on Irrigation Water Management in the Babai River Basin, Nepal

The diminishing spring discharge in the Middle Mountain Zone (MMZ) Nepal is a matter of concern because it directly affects livelihoods low-income farmers region. Therefore, understanding impacts changes climate and land-use patterns on water demand availability crucial. We investigated impact change streamflow environmental flow, for spring-fed river irrigation using limited meteorological data available Babai River Basin, Nepal. SWAT CROPWAT8.0 were used to respectively calculate present future demand. Three general circulation models under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs 4.5 8.5) periods 2020–2044, 2045–2069, 2070–2099 investigate change. Results indicate that catchment likely experience an increase rainfall temperature future. increment rise are replicated annual flow anticipated by 24–37%, historical 1991–2014. Despite this increase, projections show Basin will remain deficit basin from January May decades.