Many farmers are venturing into commercial vegetable farming amid the pandemic. Similarly, farmers of Kheri in Dewathang Gewog under Samdrup Jongkhar started growing vegetables on commercial scale. However, water shortage becomes a challenge for them.
All 15 households in Kheri village are growing winter vegetables this time. But villagers have to use the drinking water supply to water their vegetables in absence of irrigation water. And they said they are not able to produce vegetables as expected due to the water scarcity.
“We get vegetable seeds but water supply is not enough here. We use the drinking water supply for all-purpose. But these days, we received a light rainfall which has helped the vegetables to grow,” said Yangden, a farmer.
Another farmer said, “water is not enough here. All of us here are growing vegetables so it is not enough.”
According to Dewathang gup, the gewog doesn’t have a plan to provide separate irrigation water. The present drinking water source is maintained every year.
“This year, we have Nu 5 M to maintain the water sources in the gewog. We are ready to start the work, after that I think villagers will have enough water for both irrigation and drinking purposes,” said Leki Wangchuk, the Dewathang Gup.
Meanwhile, Dzongkhag agriculture officials also assure that villagers will be supplied with pipes and plastic water tanks to store water in next winter if they continue to produce vegetables on commercial scale.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
