Farmers in Rikhey Chiwog in Samdrup Jongkar are seeing new hope for paddy cultivation. Slopes and uneven farmland that once made farming difficult are now being transformed into flat terraces through land development works. This, farmers say, is making cultivation easier and gradually bringing an end to what has been literally an uphill battle.
In Rikhey, Dewathang Gewog’s only paddy-growing chiwog, more slopes are transforming into flat, irrigated terraces, unlocking the potential for increased yield.
Following the successful conversion of six acres of land last year, another nine acres are under development this time.
Terracing is not merely a cosmetic change. Farmers say, with the newly levelled terraces, water retention has improved and cultivation is more manageable.
Sangay Dorji, a resident said, “Earlier, the fields were filled with stones which made cultivation difficult. As a result, many farmers left their land fallow. But after the recent land development works, farming has become easier, and people are showing renewed interest in farming.”
The development is also changing how farmers work.
With flatter and wider plots, mechanised farming is gradually becoming possible in areas where oxen and manual labour were once the only options.
Likewise, Rinzin Dorji said, “The fields used to be narrow and located on steep slopes, so farming was challenging. Now, our land has been levelled where we can grow more paddy. We can also use tractors for farming, which was not possible before.”
Kelzang Norbu who is also from Rikhey said, “Farming is more convenient now. We no longer have to deal with steep slopes. The transformation has helped mechanise our farming practices.”
Tempa Rabgay, another resident said, “We had to prepare the paddy fields ourselves, so the plot sizes used to be smaller. These days, an excavator is doing the clearing job for us. Moreover, we no longer have to use oxen for ploughing, which is convenient.”
The district’s agriculture sector is undertaking the initiative at an estimated cost of around Nu 400,000 with technical support from the gewog agriculture extension office.
For the farmers of Rikhey, the sound of a machine reshaping their slopes is more than just noise, it carries the promise of a more productive and sustainable future. As the landscape transforms, so does their confidence that agriculture will remain a dependable source of sustenance for their families.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
