Jammu and Kashmir government has directed the state’s farmers to not sow paddy as the region is expecting a water shortage in the coming months.
Farmers have been suggested to opt for lesser water demanding crops.
What is the water situation in J&K?
J&K has received deficit rainfall for the last three years is stated to experiencing a prolonged dry spell which was last witnessed in early 2000.
Presently - The state has received less than normal snowfall and rain in the winter of 2017, and in the initial days of spring this year.
The past 8 months had been dry in the valley, which has caused water levels in Jhelum to dip to a mere 1.3 meters, while it should’ve ideally been 1.5 meters.
Even an abundant rainfall in the coming months is expected to only partially offset the current situation – thereby triggering a water emergency.
Risks - If the situation aggravates, it may also lead to a drinking water crisis in many villages, as streams may run dry in the course of time.
Additionally, the districts of “Baramulla, Kupwara, Budgam and Pulwama” have been marked as high priority.
Causes - There is a clear spike in average temperatures in the valley, and even perceptible change in snowfall patterns have been observed.
Some experts have linked these phenomenal trends to global warming.
Why has the government asked farmers to shun paddy?
In Kashmir, farmers do not use groundwater for irrigation purposes, thereby making their paddy fields dependent on surface water.
During a normal year, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department provides water to 2.5 lakh hectares of land.
This has triggered fears of a possible crisis and the government has asked farmers to grow crops that require less water in summer.
The circular is likely to be made mandatory for farmers and the government might even be empowered to use coercive force to dissuade paddy sowing.
The government has stated that the intention is to prevent farmer losses, and nip off any possible unrest that might get triggered as a consequence.
Notably, similar advisory circulars were issued in 1957 and 2000, but farmers didn’t pay heed and had faced huge crop losses.
What are the major crops of Kashmir?
Paddy - Paddy (rice) is a staple food crop in the valley and is cultivated in around 1.41 lakh hectares of land.
Around 88 quintals of rice is produced per annum in Kashmir and the market worth is estimated to be about 450 crores.
Notably, ten varieties of rice are grown in the valley and they command a premium in the market as there is mimimum fertilizer use.
But there are reports that farmers are turning their paddy fields into orchards or housing colonies due to the challenges involved in paddy cultivation.
Notably, in the past 15 years, areas under paddy cultivation is said to have come dowm from 1.70 lakh hectares to 1.41 lakh hectares.
Other Crops - Farmers also grow maize, cereal, and other short-duration crops in between two paddy seasons.
As a second crop, farmers take to mustard as it requires lesser water – but this too will be hit if the dry spell is prolonged.
