Farmers in Drepoong Chiwog under Drepoong Gewog in Monggar are certainly not in happy mood, these days.
The reason for their unhappy phase is worms that have infested the agricultural fields and eaten away maize and other crops in their village.
Worms have attacked crops belonging to over six households in Drepoong.
A 61-year-old Rinchen Zam from Sakarme Village in Drepoong is one of affected farmers.
She cultivated maize on three acres of farm land,a month ago but now, half of it is eaten away by worms. She said the matter had been taken to the Chiwog Tshogpa and is yet to hear from her.
“We have lots of problem. To re-cultivate again, we don’t have seeds and fertilisers. Oxen were also sent into jungle. I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. I have also many children to look after. I don’t know whom to approach also. When I approached Tshogpa, she has nothing to say on this. I will have to walk a day if I need to report to gewog agriculture extension office. So I am planning to visit next time,” said Rinchen Zam.
Other farmers are also worried that they will have no harvest this year.
A farmer, Tshering Yangchen said, “We come across pests aplenty when we dig the farms. But we re-cultivated the maize again”.
However, the Gewog Agriculture Extension Officer, Tenzin Rabgay, said he is not aware of the problems and added “they distribute pesticides only once in a year upon the demand of farmers and those affected fail to register their names to claim pesticides prior to the cultivation. As a result, the pesticides run out of stock during the outbreak of pests”.
Maize is the main staple diet for villagers of Drepoong Gewog in Monggar.
