In Samdrup Jongkhar’s Raling Chiwog, farming is flourishing like never before. Villagers are rejoicing in a successful paddy harvest and cultivating a variety of winter vegetables. These have all been possible after the construction of the Omshari irrigation channel. Constructed in 2023, the channel has transformed agriculture in the area, ensuring a steady water supply and boosting farmers’ livelihoods.
Until the completion of the Omshari irrigation channel, cultivating vegetables was nearly impossible for the Raling villagers in Pemathang Gewog.
With limited water, they also struggled to cultivate paddy which is their main source of livelihood.
Now, with the irrigation channel running right through the middle of the paddy fields, not only are paddy saplings thriving but also helping villagers cultivate winter vegetables.
Passang Tobgay has cultivated beans this time. He says growing beans on a large scale needs more water which was impossible before the completion of the Omshari irrigation channel.
“It is beneficial, I have not seen villagers take an interest in cultivating vegetables before but now they are growing vegetables on a smaller scale. I have cultivated beans on over 70 decimals of land which was not possible before due to the shortage of water. Now, with proper irrigation channels, we can grow more vegetables.”
Just recently, Passang harvested more than 200 kilogrammes of beans. He remains optimistic about earning up to Nu 120,000 by selling the legumes this time.
Like Passang, other villagers in Raling Chiwog are also growing winter vegetables using the Omshari irrigation channel.
“With the Omshari irrigation channel, we can cultivate more paddy and even grow vegetables during winter since water is available. In the past, we used to grow vegetables by using the drinking water supply which was not enough for mass vegetable cultivation,” said Sherab Gyaltshen, a resident of Pemathang.
“I have cultivated cabbage, carrot, and chilli using the Omshari irrigation channel. Without water, we are unable to grow vegetables. Thanks to the irrigation channel, growing vegetables is easier now,” said Tendi, another resident.
Worth Nu 95 M, the 23-kilometer Omshari irrigation channel was constructed by 110 DeSuups in 2023 as part of the National Service Water Project.
Pemathang is among one of the largest paddy-growing gewogs in the district. The gewog residents cultivate paddy on more than 630 acres of fields every year.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
