Too many forest rules and regulations and the workload involved in Upland rice cultivation in Zhemgang, is now discouraging the locals from practicing the age-old paddy plantation method in the dzongkhag.
In the past, most villagers in Zhemgang used to practice upland rice (Kamja) cultivation by means of ‘slash and burn’ paddy transplantation. But with the changing farming methods and the strict implementation of forestry regulations, the villagers are not really taking keen interest to persuade this age old practice anymore.
A farmer in Zhemgang, Tshewang Rinzin, says they want to continue with the tradition but too many rules are making it difficult for them.
“Less practice of upland rice cultivation is mainly due to fear of causing forest fire and penalty,” said the Shingkhar Gup, Needu.
Farmers said the upland rice cultivation does not require irrigation water and the practice has been disappearing year after year. This they said is mainly due to human-wildlife conflict, and also due to less people living in the villages owing to Rural-Urban migration.
However, the villagers said with the changing climatic environment, they are optimistic to reinstate the practice, replace wet land cultivations.
Paddy is the second stable crops for the farmers in Zhemgang. The Dzongkhag has about 2000 acres of land registered as paddy fields.
