Hot and dry weather without rainfall for almost a month has left farmers in parts of Khamdang Gewog of Trashi Yangtse worried. Their groundnut and maize plants are wilting due to the hot weather. Farmers there grow maize and groundnut as main sources of income.
Maize plants that are already damaged by pest infestation are dying due to heat in lower parts of Khamdang Gewog. The place has not received rainfall for around a month.
Similarly, growth of groundnut plants is affected because of the hot and dry weather.
According to the farmers, groundnut production depends entirely on rainfall during the flowering season.
Sangay Wangmo, a farmer of Khamdang said, “The groundnut plants have started flowering and without rainfall, the plants are wilting which will only revive if we receive rainfall. However, if the weather continues to remain hot and dry, the plants will die. I am worried since we depend on farming for livelihood. There is no rainfall. The heat is unbearable.”
Similarly, Ugyen Wangmo, who is also a farmer in farmer in Khamdang said, “The maize plants cannot bear corn without rainfall. We don’t have water to irrigate the maize fields. Although there is a small stream, it is barely enough for drinking. The water supply from Buyang has to be used for paddy cultivation. As a result, we don’t have water to irrigate maize and groundnut fields.”
Likewise, Jigme Lhamo said, “There won’t be much nut without rainfall during the flowering season. If there is rainfall during flowering time, the plants grow well and bear better fruits. If the flowers die, there won’t be fruits.”
The farmers have also sought spiritual intervention by reciting texts and prayers to induce rainfall.
Around 50 households in lower Khamdang are desperately awaiting rainfall to revive their dying crops.
The Khamdang Gup said they don’t have other alternatives such as providing irrigation water as the gewog residents are already facing a shortage of water even for drinking purposes.
According to the farmers, they entirely depend on rainfall to grow crops.
The district administration has provided dry land irrigation support by providing Sintex storage tanks to draw and store water from spring water sources, few years ago.
The Gewog Agriculture Extension office said farmers face this problem every year adding that it is not severe as of now. The office added that the production might get hampered if the weather continues to remain hot and dry without rainfall for another month.
Sonam Darjay, Trashi Yangtse
Edited by Phub Gyem
