To improve quinoa production and foster winter vegetable and other crop production, Changmey chiwog of Shongphu Gewog in Trashigang started constructing a dry land irrigation scheme in May 2020. However, the crop production didn’t see any improvement as the irrigation project is yet to be complete. The pandemic hampered the completion of the project. It was supposed to be complete in 2021.
The farmers of Changmey usually grow barley during the dry winter season. However, they started growing quinoa a few years ago. But the production is not as expected as quinoa requires sufficient water for better production. Although it is a drought-resistant crop, a lesser amount of water is known to reduce both plant height and yield. The chiwog faces a shortage of irrigation water during the winter.
“We heard that quinoa requires enough water. Saw some farmers growing quinoa using sufficient water and the crop grows better. The quinoa plant does not grow well without water. This year, we could not get water supply due to pipe shortage,” said Tshering Zangmo, a farmer of Changmey.
“Most of us started cultivating the crop thinking we will get adequate water for irrigation. But we didn’t get irrigation water. And without water, it is better to cultivate barley as it does not require water. Quinoa grows better only where there is water,” said Dorji Lhamo.
To address the shortage of irrigation water, the farmers have started using drinking water in their vegetable fields and other crops during the winter. And this has caused a shortage of drinking water too for some households in the chiwog.
“We face a shortage of drinking water when the households in the upper areas use drinking water in their fields. If we get a dry land irrigation water supply, it will benefit us as they won’t use water in their fields. The water source is quite far and we are facing a water shortage. But we hope there won’t be a shortage of drinking water after we get the dry land water supply,” said Kinzang Lhamo.
The source for the dry land irrigation water scheme is located around four kilometres from the village. The farmers constructed a water reservoir tank and laid water pipes. But the scheme is incomplete due to a shortage of water pipes.
“If we worked as per our previous plan, the construction would have been completed by August last year. However, we had to order an extra water pipe which we could not get due to lockdown. All works are complete except for the pipe fitting. They said they will provide right after the situation improves,” said Dorji, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer in Trashigang.
Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihood Enhancement Programme (CARLEP) is funding the dry land irrigation construction project worth Nu 2 M. The scheme is expected to benefit 43 households in Changmey chiwog.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Phub Gyem
