Water scarcity worries world famous basmati growers

Water scarcity worries basmati growers
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, June 16
Growers of basmati rice in the RS Pura area of the Jammu region are eagerly awaiting the monsoon to hit Jammu and Kashmir, as the sowing season has already started and water scarcity is affecting the crop.

RS Pura is known as the rice bowl of the state.“The sowing of rice has already started, but choked canals have affected it. Most of the canals are dry and our produce is now totally dependant on the rain,” said Chaudhary Dev Raj, president of the RS Pura Rice Growers Association.

He alleged that though the government was aware that the rice growers were facing water scarcity, it had not made any arrangement. “Though the Agriculture Department has distributed hybrid seeds to the farmers this year, it has forgotten its prime duty to provide adequate water to the rice growers,” Dev Raj said.

He demanded that either the Agriculture Minister or officials of the department should solve the farmers’ problem, otherwise, the area would lose its name for producing quality basmati rice.

Minister for Irrigation Taj Mohi-ud-Din had recently said the department had removed silt from almost all canals in the state. “If there is any canal still choked or dry, we will definitely remove silt and garbage from it to ensure that water reaches the tail end,” said Taj.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the monsoon is likely to hit the state on July 1. “As per our forecast, the monsoon will hit the state well on time and it will last a longer period, as this year has been cooler as compared to the previous years,” said Sonam Lotus, in charge of the IMD.

He said the monsoon always brought cheer to the farmers, as water was the basic requirement of every crop. “The farmers of the Jammu region will definitely get a respite from the water problem, as most of the agriculture land falls under the rain-fed area”.

Growers of basmati rice await the monsoon as the sowing season
has started

Water scarcity affecting the crop

Farmers rue poor irrigation facilities and government apathy

Courtesy: The Tribune