The dry weather and inadequate supply of irrigation water have left many farmers across the country worried. Many have not been able to transplant paddy on time. However, for farmers of Dhakpai village in Zhemgang, it’s a different tale. The farmers have been blessed with abundant irrigation water. But in absence of a proper irrigation canal, they are worried that excess water will damage their paddy transplantation.
Paddy transplantation in Dhakpai village is in full swing. Fields are puddled with water and farmers are happy with the timely paddy transplantation. They said with an abundant water supply, the paddy transplantation takes a few days to complete.
“When there is excess water flowing in the field, we will have to divert the excess water supply. Otherwise, we do not have irrigation water scarcity,” said Nim Dorji, a resident of Dhakpai village.
“We do not have a water issue here. The only problem is the lack of a proper water channel. Otherwise, we have no water problem,” said Dorji Penjor, another resident.
“There is no irrigation water problem here. We have a water source that caters to everything,” said Chingmo, a resident of Dhakpai village.
However, with no proper irrigation canal, farmers said the excess water damages paddy transplantation. Rice grows well under water. But if the water levels are high and submerge the whole field, then the rice plant will be ruined.
“When there is heavy rainfall, it gets flooded and washes away our temporary irrigation channel. As a result, a huge deposit of sand debris gets settled in the fields submerging the paddy transplantation. It would be great if the government could provide us with a good irrigation canal,” said Tashi Phuntsho, a resident.
The farmers are planning to request the gewog administration for an irrigation canal. Some 17 households cultivate rice on more than 20 acres of land every year.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Sonam Pem
