A Brief Profile of Surkhet District
June, 2014
Kathmandu, Nepal
Contents
1.
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
2.
Demography........................................................................................................................................... 1
3.
Climate and Environment......................................................................................................................... 1
4.
Natural Resources .................................................................................................................................. 1
5.
Human Development............................................................................................................................... 2
6.
Agriculture and Food Security .................................................................................................................. 2
7.
Infrastructure .......................................................................................................................................... 2
8.
Selected VDCs for the Project .................................................................................................................. 2
9.
Profile of selected VDCs .......................................................................................................................... 3
10. References............................................................................................................................................. 7
1. Introduction
Surkhet is one of the fifteen districts
of mid-western region and is the
regional headquarter as well. It is hub
for Karnali. Ecologically it is a hill
district and is surrounded by Salyan
in east, Bardiya, Banke and Kailali in
South, Doti and Achham in west and
Jajrkot, Dailekh and Achham in North.
Geographic location of Surkhet is:
latitude from 280 20 N to 280 58' N
and longitude from 800 59' E to 820
02' E. Altitude ranges from 198 meter
to 2347 meter from mean sea level.
Surkhet is 2'451 square Kilometer in
area and is composed of 50 VDC1s and a municipality. Birendranagar Municipality is the
headquarter of the district. About 43% of the land falls under
2. Demography
4.81
According to the census, 2011 the total population of Average household size
72'863
Surkhet is 350'804 of which male comprised 169421 Total households
2)
Population
density(per
km
143.13
and female comprised 181381. Total households
Population growth rate
….
are 72863. The major inhabitants in Surkhet are
Source: Census, 2011
Chhetri, Janajati, Dalit, Bramhan and Thakuri.
Chhetri forms about 32% of the population followed by Dalits about 25% and 20%. The
remaining are Tharu, Badi, Newar, Muslim and others.
3. Climate and Environment
Surkhet also has a diverse climate because of huge altitude variation, from 198 meter to 2347
meter. Therefore, hot and dry sub tropic to cool temperate climates are found in the district.
Average temperature ranges from 37.10C maximum to 4.50C minimum. The average rainfall of
the district is 1603 mm but bulk of the rain (1312mm) falls in the monsoon leaving other months
relatively dry. Surkhet ranks low in overall climate change vulnerability.
About 43% of the land belongs to Mahabharat range where soil erosion is prevalent. About
42% falls in plain valley where the soil is fertile. The remaining land fall in Siwalik range which is
rich in forest resources.
4. Natural Resources
Surkhet is rich in natural resources. Large area is covered by forest (71.4%) and agriculture
plus settlement (26.4%).Bheri and Karnali are the major river of the district. Besides, many
other rivers are flowing through the Surkhet. The district has 177'854 hectares of forest land
which is 71% of the total area. it is very rich in forest resources.
1 Village Development Committee, the lowest governance structure in Nepal
1
5. Human Development
According to Central Bureau of Statistics, of the total population 30% are living under poverty
line. According to Nepal Human Development Report, 2014 (GoN and UNDP), Surkhet ranks
34th in Human Development Index (HDI=0.476). Similarly, it ranks 49th in Human Poverty Index
(HPI=36.4). National values for these indices are 0.49 and 32.12 respectively. Per capita
income is 563 USD compared to 718 USD of national average.
Regions
Adult literacy rate (aged 5 years and above)*
Surkhet
73.1
Mid West Hills.
64.7
65.9
Nepal
Source: *;CBS, 2011
Female literacy rate (aged 5 and
above)*
55.9
57.39
6. Agriculture and Food Security
Agriculture is one of the major occupations. Cultivated land comprised 37'444 i.e about 25% of
the total land. Paddy, wheat and maize are the major crops; others are vegetables, citrius fruits
and potato, mustard and lentils. The food security situation of the district is can be termed as
minimally food insecure.
7. Infrastructure
Surkhet is the regional head quarter of the mid western region and a hub for Karnali. It has an
airport and is well connected to road network. Of the total cultivated land (37'444ha) only about
one third of the cultivated land (11'141 ha) has round the year irrigation facility2. Being a
regional headquarter Surkhet hosts regional offices of ministries/departments of government of
Nepal. It also has a Mid West University in the Birendranagar.
8. Selected VDCs for the Project
For Up Scaling of WUMP+3R under BRACED
programme, seven VDCs are selected. Selected VDCs
are represented in blue color in the map. The general
information of these VDCs is presented in the matrix in
following pages.
2
District Profile Surkhet, 2009
2
9. Profile of selected VDCs
Name of
VDC
Awalching
Betan
Bijaura
Gadhi
Garpan
Location
Ranibas, and
Matela in east,
Pamka in west,
Rajhena in south,
and Dailekh district
in north
Bijaura in east,
Lagaam in west,
kailali district in
south, and Achham
district in north
Guthu in east,
Betan in west,
Ghatgaun VDc and
Kailali district in
south, and Achham
district in north
Jarbuta, in east,
Lekpharsa in west,
Birendranagar in
south, and Dailekh
district in north
Pakma, in east,
Ratu in west,
Birendranagar in
south, and
Satakhani in north
Longitude and
Latitude
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 37'
50"N and longitude
–810 48' 09"E.
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 52'
50"N and longitude
–810 09' 37"E.
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 51'
36"N and longitude
–810 15' 46"E.
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 39'
44"N and longitude
–810 36' 36"E.
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 37'
29"N and longitude
–810 44' 32"E.
Chhapre and
Vidyapur, in east,
Bijaura in west,
Bijaura and
Ghatgaun in south,
and Dailekh district
in north
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 51'
54"N and longitude
–810 18' 46"E.
Area of land
14 sq.km
74 sq.km
28 sq.km
Total
Population and
Households
2338 (Male-1111,
Female – 1227),
386 Households
72 sq.km
3087 (Male-1541,
Female – 1546),
513 Households
5438 (Male-2644,
Female – 2794),
1036 Households
3050 (Male-1475,
Female – 1575),
685 Households
22 sq.km
2011 (Male-943,
Female – 1068),
415 Households
64 sq.km
7640 (Male-3692,
Female – 3948),
1422 Households
Poverty %
48.41%
Major caste/
ethnicity
Dalits: 25 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
72%, Brahman-1%
Major
Occupation
Majority of
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land-
56.18%
Dalits: 15 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
29%, Janajatis52%. and Brahman
-3%
Above 80% of the
total population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land-
48.6%
Dalits: 31 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
29%, Janajatis28%. and Brahman
-11%
76.94% of the total
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land-
28.5%
Dalits: 10 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
20%, Janajatis39%. and Brahman
-29%
Majority people are
involved in farming
27.46%
Dalits: 11 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
40%, Janajatis18%. and Brahman
-25%
56% of the total
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land-
39.3%
Dalits: 32 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
23%, Janajatis13%. and Brahman
-27%
76 % of the total
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land-
Agriculture
Cultivable land-
Guthu
3
1133 hectares
Forest coverage108.18 hectares
660 hectares
959.97 hectares
covered by forest
722 hectares
61.8 sq. km forest
coverage
1311 hectares
Forest -470.42
hectares
405 hectares
Grazing land- 2.97
sq.km, Forest -8.3
sq.km
-
Ranges from 400 to
1000 m altitude
Environment
and climate
information
Varies from 4001720 AMSL; Hot to
Warm dry sub
tropical climate can
be observed with
average rainfall of
100cm
Avg temperature
lies within 25°C to
35°C.
Education
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 63 %
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 59 %
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 70 %
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 68 %
Avg temperature
between 25°C to
35°C. ward1,2&3
affected by
lightning and ward
4 from soil erosion
and landslides
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 73 %
1477 hectare
Forest coverage50.08 sq.km;
Grazing land-0.1
sq.km
Varies from 4001720 AMSL; Hot to
Warm dry subtropical climate can
be observed with
average rainfall of
100cm
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 70 %
Health
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Total vaccinated
VDC
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe motherhood16.7%, Total
vaccinated VDC
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Total vaccinated
VDC
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe Mother hood65%, Total
vaccinated VDC
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe motherhood86.4%,
Vaccination-86.4%
Drinking water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
ODF VDC ,
78.2 % of total
households are
connected to piped
water sup-ply
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe Mother hood54.5%,
Vaccination79.3%
VDC is declared
ODF
Infrastructures
in the VDC
Primary health
center -1 VDC
Office-1 Schools11
Primary health
post- 3, Child
development
center- 8, Schools12
VDC Office-1,
Health post-1,
Maternity ward-1,
Schools -10
Forest
coverage
VDC is declared
ODF
Health post - 1
Maternity wardVDC Office-1
Schools- 11
ODF vdc
63% hh connected
to pipe line for
drinking water
81% households
connected to pipe
line for drinking
water. VDC is
declared ODF
Primary Schools- 9,
Lower Secondary2, Health post with
maternity- 2
24.22% households
connected to pipe
line for drinking
water. VDC is
declared ODF
Health post - 1
Maternity ward- 1
VDC Office-1
Schools- 11
4
..continue
Name of
VDC
Jarbuta
Lekgaun
Matela
Pokharikanda
Ratudevistan
Location
Ratu and Satakhani
east, Gadhi and
Birendranagar in
west, Latikoili in
south, and Dailekh
district in north
Longitude and
Latitude
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 37'
23"N and longitude
–810 39' 39"E.
Chinchhu in east,
Haripur in west,
Latikoili and
Ramghat in North,
and Bardiya district
in south
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 40'
01"N and longitude
–810 34' 14"E.
Area of land
32.5 sq. Km
Total
Population and
Households
Jajarkot, in east,
Dailekh district in
west, Awalchin and
Ranibas in south
Dailekh district in
east, Vidyapur in
west, Tatopani and
Kunathari in south,
and Salkot in north
Garpan in east,
Jarbuta in west,
Satakhani in south,
and Dailekh district
in north
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 40'
36"N and longitude
–810 50' 15"E.
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 45'
23"N and longitude
–810 28' 34"E.
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 38'
56"N and longitude
–810 41' 47"E.
Dailekh district in
east and north,
Chhapre and
vidyapur in west,
Pokharikanda in
south
Geographically, the
latitude –- 280 48'
44"N and longitude
–810 28' 04"E.
57 sq. km
51 sq.km
77 sq. km
24 sq. km
-
8580 (Male-4137,
Female – 4443),
1837 Households
4719 (Male-2263,
Female – 2456),
989 Households
6062 (Male-2904,
Female – 3158),
1021 Households
4741 (Male-2367,
Female – 2374),
860 Households
1679 (Male-840,
Female – 839), 333
Households
8510 (Male-4091,
Female – 4419),
1636 Households
Poverty %
14.11%
Major caste/
ethnicity
Dalits: 21 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
19%, Janajatis20% and Brahman
-36%
28.5%
Dalits: 28 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
18%, Janajatis52%. and Brahman
-2%
48.41%
Dalits: 25 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
69%, and Brahman
-6%
47.53%
Dalits: 39 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
23%, Janajatis26% and Brahman
-4%
28.34%
Dalits: 10 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
58%, Janajatis30%
34.14%
Dalits: 26 %,
Kshetri+Thakuri –
33%, Janajatis24% and Brahman
-10%
Major
Occupation
84.25 % of the total
population are in
agriculture
Agriculture
Cultivable land1291 hectares
Majority of
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land1352 hectares
48.83 % of the total
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land668 hectares
Majority of
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land1312 hectares
84.25 % of the total
population are
engaged in
agriculture
Cultivable land1274 hectares
30.93% involved in
business and
27.54% in teaching
Cultivable land1567 hectares
Salkot
5
Forest
coverage
Forest coverage21.78 hectare
Environment
and climate
information
-
Education
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 79 %
Health
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe Mother hood38.2%, Total
vaccinated VDC
Drinking water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
Infrastructures
in the VDC
70 % of total
households have
connected pipe
water supply. The
VDC is ODF VDC
Primary health
post- 2, Child
development
centre- 8
Schools- 11
Graze land: 2.47
sq.km; forest
coverage- 34.56
sq.km
Grazing land5.6sq.km
Forest -23.6 sq.km
Avg temperature
between 10°C to
20°C..
Avg temperature
lies within 25°C to
35°C
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 72 %
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe Mother hood31.7%, Total
vaccinated VDC
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 55 %
27.29% of total
population have
access to safe
drinking water
38 % use toilets
42.87% are
connected to piped
drinking water
VDC office -1,
Primary health post1, Child development
center- 8, Schools10
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe motherhood35.4%,
Vaccination-72.7%
Health post - 1
Maternity ward- 1
VDC Office-1,
Schools - 11
Forest coverage1147.49 hectares
Cool moist
temperate climate
ranging from
1300m to 2165m
respectively.
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 55 %
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Total vaccinated
VDC
50.9% of total
population are
consuming safe
drinking water
63.1% hh using
toilet
VDC office -1, Sub
Health post-1,
Schools-10
Grazing land: 1.23
sq.km; forest
coverage- 14.40
sq.km
Cool moist
temperate climate
ranging from
1300m to 2165m
respectively.
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 79 %
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Safe motherhood70.9%,
Vaccination-100%
Forest coverage694.53 hectares
86.8 % of total
households have
connected pipe
water supply. The
VDC is ODF VDC
ODF VDC,
78.2 % of total
households are
connected to pipe
water supply
Sub Health post - 1
VDC Office-1
,Schools - 11
VDC office -1,
Primary health
centre- 1, Maternity
ward-1, Schools18
Varies from 2501000m altitude
Overall literacy
(aged 5 yrs. and
above) rate is 71 %
Access to
Integrated health
services- 100%,
Total Vaccinated
VDC-100%
6
10. References
1. National Population and Housing Census 2011, Volume I and II, Central Bureau of
Statistics, Nepal
2. National Adaptation Programme of Action for Climate Change, 2010, Ministry of
Environment
3. Nepal Human Development Report 2014, GoN and UNDP
4. District Profile of Surkhet, District Development Committee, 2009
5. Field report of consultant
7