As dry weather imperils crops in Kashmir, Agri Dept to issue advisory

Srinagar, Apr 11: Dry weather conditions in spring have left farmers worried in Kashmir as, according to them, these conditions are likely to affect irrigation water availability and dwindle the net annual availability.

Farmers from different areas of Kashmir told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they are in a dilemma whether to sow seeds or not as there have been no rains in the spring.

“We always face dual threats. If it doesn’t rain for long, it leads to drought and if it rains for a day or two continuously, it leads to floods,” they said.

Currently, all standing crops are in need of water supply but there are no irrigation facilities and crops are getting affected, they added.

Officials told KNO that if dry weather continues for around one more month, it will be very difficult to provide water to farmers as entire agricultural land hasn’t irrigation facilities available in Kashmir.

Several departments are in touch in this regard and if the same weather conditions persist for a few more weeks, the government may issue an advisory to farmers to different areas not to sow paddy this year. This can be a setback to farmers whose livelihood is dependent on it.

Meanwhile Director Agriculture Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal told KNO that presently wherever there are no irrigation facilities available to peas and other crops, production gets affected.

“If it rains in the coming week, it won’t affect our production so much but presently our major concern is that if most glaciers melt early and all the water goes into sea, the coming agriculture season will be harsh,” he said.

Over 1 lakh 41 thousand hectare land is covered with paddy besides maize and vegetables. “If there are be no rains, it will definitely affect the crops but if there will be rain in the coming week then all can go well as we have the right time yet,” he said.

“We have held planning meetings at the Directorate of Agriculture and SKUAST and what preventive measures will be proposed for people and what precautions they need to take besides what will be our short term plan,” he said, adding that an advisory for farmers will be issued within a day. —(KNO)