To assess potential priority areas for improving access to water for rice production in eastern Terai, rainfed and irrigated cropland were mapped at 5m spatial resolution (using 2022 Planet, Sentinel–1, Sentinel–2 and vegetation index using SEPAL1. Population data (NBS–2021) and cropland data were combined to form an indicator to help identify areas with a potentially high number of people to benefit from increased access to water.