Now that the Rinchengang farmers in Thedtsho gewog of Wangdue Phodrang have sufficient irrigation water supply, they are seen reviving barren lands and preparing for paddy cultivation ahead of the season. Thanks to the Irrigation Water Supply Project, supported by the Green Climate Fund, the farmers were able to have access to abundant irrigation water from last month.
Farmers in the village are seen ploughing their farmlands, preparing for paddy cultivation. Some of them have already readied their fields for transplantation. They have left no farmland barren.
In the past, some of these paddy fields below the village were left uncultivated due to insufficient irrigation water. Although they had an irrigation water canal constructed a long time ago, the water source dried up and water became scarce. The farmers could not grow spring and winter crops.
“We are delighted to have an irrigation water supply. We could do our farm work before time. When we have enough water, we can irrigate our fields and prepare for cultivation. The crops will also grow,” said Phurba, a farmer.
Rinchengang Toed Tshogpa, Nima said, “Earlier, we used to grow winter crops in farms that have irrigation water. Now that we have sufficient irrigation water, we are hoping to grow winter crops as well and earn some income.”
“Just within a month after receiving irrigation water, we can carry out our farm works. Even the animals have enough water to drink. They stay near the canal and don’t come to our fields to destroy our crops,” said Tshering, a farmer.
Thedtsho Gup, Chador said, “If I say based on my crop production, the yield dropped in the last two years. It is because we didn’t have irrigation water. I hope it will be different this year. Moreover, we are planning to grow sufficient vegetables and maintain self-sufficiency.”
Green Climate Fund constructed the 12-kilometre irrigation water supply after spending around 27 million ngultrum. The irrigation water supply benefits around seven hundred acres of land belonging to more than 85 households.
Farmers of Rinchengang are now planning to resume spring paddy cultivation which they stopped in the last three years due to a shortage of irrigation water. Farmers here usually cultivate paddy twice a year if they have enough water for irrigation.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
