It took more than ten years for help to come their way. Some farmers of Yangnyer in Trashigang and Jamkhar Gewog in Trashi Yangtse have been facing irrigation water shortages for more than a decade. But they will get new irrigation channels by next year. The constructions under the Khangdari-Godari Irrigation Scheme began on Friday under the water project.
Their farmland is at the border between two districts. Some 150 families have more than a hundred acres of land in the area. They have been using a nearby stream to cultivate paddy. But they are not able to make most of it since there is no irrigation channel as such. Yangnyer Gewog also provided water pipes but the water issue remained.
A farmer from Yangnyer, Kinzang Youden said, “We are not able to get enough water in our fields. We also have more farmers cultivating paddy. Some left their land fallow while a few started cultivating last year.”
Another farmer, Zangpo said, “There is always an issue when the water is not enough. People quarrel. We still have a problem.”
But things are slowly going to change. The construction of two irrigation channels, the 1.6-KM Khangdari channel and the 0.8-KM Godari channel is in full swing.
“If there is water there won’t be any fallow land. We thank His Majesty for the gift,” said Samchung, a farmer.
“We will have enough water because of His Majesty. We are very grateful to His Majesty,” said Zangpo, a farmer.
The Nu 35 M project will be ready by mid next year.
Sonam Darjay, Trashi Yangtse
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
