Farmers of Rilangthang in Sergithang Gewog, Tsirang, are back working in their paddy fields. A major forest fire in 2014 cut off the community’s irrigation channel, leading to a seven-year hiatus without paddy cultivation.
The Tsirang district restored the four-kilometre-long irrigation channel last year with a budget of about Nu 4 M. The irrigation water will benefit 12 households in the Rilangthang community.
In a meeting with the villagers, the district officials encouraged people to grow rice in summer and vegetables during winter.
“After huge support from the government, farmers should now stress on paddy cultivation during summer. In winter, they should also grow vegetables like chillies, tomatoes and onion,” said Dorji Gyeltshen, the Tsirang’s district agriculture officer.
The farmers were given an improved rice variety called IR-28. In addition, the district officials joined the villagers in paddy transplantation recently.
A farmer from the community, Tika Ram Gurung, is delighted that rice from his one-acre land will help him reduce dependence on imported rice.
While, another farmer Nirmala Gurung said, “we could resume paddy cultivation with support from the government.” She now has no intentions of leaving her land fallow.
“Rilangthang’s land is fertile and can grow a variety of crops,” says Ratna Bdr. Gurung. Like other farmers, Ratna is grateful for the support from the government.
With irrigation water aplenty, the villagers are also reclaiming land, which was left fallow. In addition, given the community’s potential for commercial farming, the district provides low-cost greenhouses, seeds, and drip irrigation sets.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
