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Agriculture is the backbone of Nepal's economy, with the Terai region, characterized by fertile alluvial soil, hosting the majority of irrigation systems. However, ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and poor project prioritization have severely impacted agricultural productivity. This study addresses these challenges by employing a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach to prioritize irrigation projects based on critical performance indicators such as water conveyance efficiency, application efficiency, and cropping intensity. Field data, including soil moisture, infiltration rates, and evapotranspiration, along with survey data, were utilized to assess five irrigation projects. Results identified the Kiran Nala Lift Irrigation Project as the highest priority for maintenance, while the Rajapur Irrigation Project ranked the lowest. This pioneering application of MCDM in Nepal's irrigation sector provides a robust framework for project prioritization, offering critical insights for improving agricultural productivity through targeted interventions. Practical Applications: This research applies the MCDM approach to assess irrigation projects based on nine key criteria, including efficiency metrics and environmental factors. By systematically addressing the infrastructure and management challenges, this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing irrigation project operations. The findings serve as an actionable tool for policymakers to enhance agricultural output by prioritizing the maintenance of critical irrigation systems.

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  • First multi-criteria decision-making application for irrigation in Nepal, enhancing project prioritization in the Terai region.

  • Field-based data on nine irrigation performance criteria, ensuring accurate evaluation.

  • Practical framework for improving agricultural productivity through project ranking.

  • Focus on southern Nepal, addressing inefficiencies in critical agricultural zones.

  • Actionable insights for policymakers, guiding infrastructure decisions.

analytical hierarchy process, field measurement of irrigation parameters, multi-criteria decision-making, project prioritization
© 2025 The Authors
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY 4.0), which permits copying, adaptation and redistribution, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).