Farmers of Khamaedthang Chiwog under Phuentshogthang Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar are harvesting their first paddy yield after nearly 20 years.
Earlier, villagers of Khamaedthang had given up cultivating spring paddy due to the drudgery associated with it. But after the agriculture ministry provided farm machinery and technical support for paddy cultivation, the villagers were rejuvenated to revive such agricultural practice.
Farmers and agriculture officials say the spring paddy, cultivated three months ago, has been successful. In the last ten days alone, about 7 acres of paddy was harvested.
Agriculture ministry transplanted the paddy in over 95 acres of land belonging to the farmers there.
“We have decided earlier that all the work will be carried out by Farm Machinery Corporation Limited (FMCL) while villagers have to provide the land,” the Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer, Dorji Gyeltshen said. The officer said 20 per cent of the produce will be given to the villagers. “The remaining 80 percent will be taken by FMCL to make income.”
About 32 metric tonnes of rice equivalent to four truckloads are expected to be harvested.
Of the 77 households in the Chiwog, 66 of them gave their land for spring paddy cultivation.
Although the summer paddy transplantation has been delayed, farmers say, they can cultivate another rice variety locally known as Khamthey.
According to Khamaedthang Tshogpa, Karma Namgay, Khamthey can be transplanted till mid of August unlike the summer paddy which have to be done within this month.
Meanwhile, the ministry plans to carry out spring paddy cultivation in large scale in other Gewogs of Samdrup Jongkhar next year.
