Pulwama, Sept 11: Lack of irrigation water has affected Paddy crop over many kanals in Lelhara village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Paddy is a vital crop that sustains the farming community in Lelhara, a village situated on one bank of river Jhelum near historic Kakapora town, around 6 kilometers from district headquarters.
Farmers from Lelhara village informed that a big chunk of paddy crop at three locations has been impacted due to dire shortage of irrigation water this year.
The loss has left farmers in this village in despair.
Abdul Salam Lone, an aged farmer from Lelhara, shared the grim reality, saying, “For the past two months, we have faced a severe crisis of irrigation water. My heart aches to see around 3 and a half kanal of my paddy land suffering at Gamghar, Barzul, and Marg.”
Ghulam Mohammad Lone, another affected farmer, emphasized the impact of prevailing dry weather conditions, stating, “The water level in the Jhelum River has plummeted. The irrigation scheme ceased drawing water from the Jhelum as its water level reached low levels. “
He said that farmers are living on the edge as they grapple with the possibility of a colossal 70 per cent reduction in crop yield as they were unable to secure irrigation water during the critical milk stage of the crop’s growth cycle.
Ashiq Andrabi, Assistant Executive Engineer Irrigation, Kakapora, revealed that the irrigation scheme has been inoperative for the past 15 days due to low water levels in the Jhelum.
“We have submitted a fresh proposal for ensuring irrigation water to the affected area and are hopeful that it will receive approval during this financial year,” he said.
The farmers said that besides prevailing dryness, sand extraction from Jhelum has also increased its depth making it difficult for various irrigation schemes in the area to load water.
Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Mohammad Iqbal Khan, told Rising Kashmir that paddy is in ripening stage at this time and there is not much requirement of water at this phase.
He said that irrigation was essential during the milk stage.
