The construction of the new irrigation water supply in Kanakha village in Dagana’s Kana Gewog has been finally completed after three years. Farmers have resumed paddy cultivation after leaving their fields barren for years as the irrigation water supply scheme remained incomplete. The Dagana district administration handed over the Nu 18 M worth scheme to the villagers last month.
The construction of the 4.8-kilometre irrigation water channel was completed just before the onset of the paddy transplantation season.
The completion of the project was made possible after the contract was awarded to another contractor earlier this year. The previous contract was terminated in January this year after missing several deadlines.
After the farmers received a new reliable irrigation water supply, 36-year-old Kelzang transplanted paddy on three acres of fields.
“All of us have carried out paddy transplantation works this year. It was tough clearing bushes to transplant paddy but we have managed to grow the crop in almost all wetland now. We are happy with the new irrigation water.”
Like him, 28 other farmers are reaping the benefit of adequate irrigation water. They had left their land fallow for two years.
“In the absence of any cash crop, low-income people like myself had a difficult time with loan repayment. But now we are happy with adequate irrigation water. Unlike in the past, this time, most of us expanded paddy cultivation area. We are grateful to the government for helping us with the reliable irrigation water supply,” said Dotay, a farmer.
Tek Bdr. Bhattarai, another farmer said “With the reliable irrigation water, we are now planning to increase rice production by three-fold. This can be done by not leaving wetland fallow. We are hopeful that the irrigation water would benefit us.”
Menuka Bhattarai, who is also a farmer said “It was very difficult without irrigation water but now the problem is over. We could not grow paddy after the previous irrigation channel was dismantled. But with the new irrigation water, we have completed paddy transplantation for this season.”
However, some fields have been left fallow this year as it was difficult to clear overgrown bushes.
“I will transplant paddy next year in my remaining wetland. For that, I will clear off bushes this winter. This time, I could not clear off all bushes at a time because it is very difficult to uproot bushes and plough,” said Kelzang.
Mani Prasad Powdel, a farmer said “Around six to seven families have abandoned their houses in search of better opportunities with the absence of irrigation water in the village. Later, three families have returned. Now, I would urge the other families to return home as we now have adequate irrigation water to grow paddy and other crops.”
The Water Flagship Programme funded the irrigation water project. The construction work which began in October 2021 was supposed to be completed in 2022.
The work to supply new irrigation water was initiated after the village faced water shortage in the past.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Tshering Zam
