Paddy growers of Jamkhar Drang in Trashi Yangtse are reaping the benefits of a newly constructed irrigation water supply scheme. For more than three decades, irrigation water supply was distributed using open irrigation channels where farmers faced shortages due to water leakage. Besides the new pipeline irrigation water supply, farmers were provided with solar fencing.
62-year-old Rinzin from Jamkhar village visits the main water tank at least twice a week to release water. He is the caretaker of the water facility.
His job is to release the water and close it when paddy fields are flooded with enough water.
The SMART irrigation system allows farmers to operate it using mobile phones from home. However, they prefer to do it manually as they can release the required quantity without wasting.
Owing to the new irrigation water supply, a few farmers have started cultivating their fallow land.
Around 65 acres of wetland belonging to 89 households including farmers of Yangnyer Gewog have paddy fields in Jamkhar Drang.
“Earlier, we struggled with irrigation water supply. It was difficult to travel along the irrigation water channel and frequent landslides damaged it. It was not a concrete irrigation channel. Now, it is easier as we have pipelines. We just have to release the water,” said Ugyen Lhendup, a farmer from Yangnyer Gewog.
Around 40 households of Jamkhar Gewog were also provided with polywire solar fencing to protect their crops from wild animals. Jamkhar gewog administration had spent around Nu 800,000 for the fencing.
“Earlier, as dusk falls, we used to pack our dinner and come here to guard paddy fields. Some did not even have proper huts. The fencing has benefited us. Moreover, with the farm road reached here, we are benefitting,” said Rinzin, who is a farmer from Jamkhar Gewog.
The irrigation channel which is more than three-kilometre long was completed early this year.
The Japanese government, through the UNDP, funded the project worth Nu 15 M.
With the new irrigation water supply, farmers hope to work hard and improve paddy production.
Sonam Darjay, Trashi Yangtse
Edited by Tshering Zam
