Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 16: With the Valley recording around 50-percent deficit rainfall in the last two months the agricultural operations have been badly affected due to the dry weather conditions.
As the dry spell continues, the farmers are extremely worried about the impact of the harsh weather on their crop. The situation has worsened to such an extent that the paddy fields have developed cracks due to lack of irrigation water and with rainfall deficit growing every passing day the farmers fear for the damage of their crop.
To worsen things for the farmers, the lift irrigation schemes which the Government had constructed to irrigate the fields have failed to provide sufficient water. The reason, officials said, is that the water has gone down below the required level in the majority of the lift irrigation schemes.
For example, the water level of Jehlum at Marwal Irrigation Scheme, which caters to several areas of South and Central Kashmir, is two feet below the required mark. The drop in the water level has dried up the paddy fields in several areas of the Valley.
Several villages of district Budgam that receive water from the irrigation scheme accused the department of failing to provide them with sufficient water facilities. The farmers said they fear for the damage of their crops as their fields have dried up for the want of water.
“There are fewer chances of yield this year as the department did not provide us with sufficient water supply,” Mohammad Yaqoob, a distraught farmer from Sanzipora area of Budgam said, adding that they have repeatedly requested the concerned authorities to lower the level pump to deal with the receding water levels, but to no avail.
Ghulam Mohammad, a farmer from Awantipora area, said the dry weather conditions are taking a toll on their fields. “The paddy plants need sufficient water to grow. If the water is not provided the plants will either dry up or fail to attain normal size,” he said. He added the Padgampora lift irrigation water scheme which supply water to his filed has failed to do so. “Not only are our paddy fields are affected but apple crop has been hit equally as the scheme provides irrigation to around 40 percent apple orchards in Pulwama and Sopian areas,” he said.
Director Metrological and Engineering Department, Sonum Lotus, told Excelsior that the Valley recorded around 50 percent rainfall deficit in the last two months. “It is a matter of concern. In contrast to most the states, there is a large rainfall deficit in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that is no forecast of a major rainfall in the region in the coming days.
As per MET, in last two months, a crucial period for progression of agriculture operation, Valley received deficit rainfall to the tune of 50 percent and all the ten districts remained in the category of severely deficit rainfall. The districts like Shopian, Pulwama, Budgam and Bandipora districts received more than 80 percent shortfall in the precipitation. The rainfall deficit has also dried up several streams in the Valley which added to irrigation woes of the farmers.
If cumulative rainfall is taken into account, 10 districts have recorded shortfall between -52 percent and 79 percent. Kashmir has received 202.3 mm rainfall in the month of July so far against an average 708 mm rainfall. Similarly, the Valley received 298.1 mm rainfall against the average 491 mm in June.
Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control, Iftikhar Kakroo, told Excelsior that they are trying their best to ensure irrigation facilities.
“The water level is very low. We are trying our best to ensure irrigation facilities but are helpless. Only rainfall can mitigate the crisis now. Let’s hope nature comes to our rescue,” he said.
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