Due to insufficient irrigation water and less rainfall this year, the farmers of Chagsakhar Gewog in Monggar could not cultivate paddy in almost 30 acres of paddy fields.
In Doongsima_Pam Chiwog, farmers say it is the first time they had to leave their paddy fields fallow.
With less rainfall, the irrigation water from a source at Gudari was not sufficient. However, they are hopeful that they will be able to cultivate paddy next season.
“Almost 20 households in the chiwog could not cultivate paddy this year. If we receive more rainfall next year, we will be able to cultivate again,” Tenzin Dorji, the Chiwog Tshogpa, said.
Instead of leaving the fields’ fallow, some farmers have cultivated maize, buckwheat and other crops.
“We have no option but to keep our land fallow. But in some paddy fields, we have grown maize and other crops,” Rinzin, a farmer, said.
The Chagsakhar Mangmi Tshering Dorji says the village already has an irrigation channel, which was constructed in 2015.
“We have allocated Nu 300,000 this fiscal year for the maintenance of the irrigation channel.”
However, with the water source drying up, farmers are faced with the shortage of irrigation water. The Mangmi added the farmers depend on the lone water source for the rice cultivation.
As per the record with Dzongkhag, Chagsagkhar Gewog has over 327 acres of uncultivated land including dry land.
