The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) conducted a field visit to Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality (VMRM), Mustang, from 1-6 September 2025, and collected primary data as part of the research project “Enhancing Climate Resilience in South Asia and China: Predicting Precipitation Shifts and Their Impacts for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resource Security”, funded by Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). Primary data on climate change impacts on livelihood, agriculture, and water availability in Mustang region was collected through a total of 20 Key Informant Interviews (KII) and 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGD), one in each 5 wards of VMRM. The Key Informants included the school principal, VMRM co-chairperson, mukhiya (village leader), tourist guide, businessperson, ward chairperson, farmers, and ward representatives. The FGD participants included farmers, businesspersons, government officials, mukhiyas and ward representatives. A women-specific FGD was conducted in Jharkot, Muktinath Ward No. 1.
Decreased snowfall, drying water sources, shift from snowfall to rainfall, leakage and seepage of flat mud roofs due to sudden and extreme rainfall, crop failure, increase in pests and crop diseases, floods and landslides events are the major findings and common experiences from the field data collection. People have felt the temperature rise and drier weather conditions compared to the past. Locals expressed their fear of extreme water scarcity in the coming years, which might lead them to migrate to other areas. The field team observed flood marks of the 2023 flood in Kag khola and its destruction and washing of bridge at Kagbeni, and realized the local situations in other areas of VMRM as discussed with the locals in the field survey.
SEN will analyze primary data and information with the climate and hydrological modelling results considering changing climate impacts to suggest better adaptation strategies to the local stakeholders.
