SRINAGAR, India, Aug 21 (IPS) – Brij Mohan, a 37-year-old farmer from Deoria, a modest village in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, has a story of resilience and transformation. Mohan, the sole breadwinner for his family, has two children, the eldest of whom is only 10.
A year ago, Mohan was growing cabbage on his 3-acre farm, but due to severe water shortage, he could grow the crop only once a year under difficult conditions. With minimal irrigation facilities, Mohan’s farm was only bringing in Rs 40,000 a year (approximately USD 600).
“I had no shortage of land, quality seeds or fertilizers. But the lack of water was a major hurdle to my livelihood. The late arrival of the monsoon and limited water from government-sponsored irrigation schemes almost forced me to give up farming. I was pushing my family towards famine,” Mohan told IPS News.
Many members of the farming community are in the same situation as Mohan, facing water scarcity, leaving their lives and fields dry.
Manga Ram, who lives just a mile from Mohan, has a similar story. He grows eggplant on his 4-acre land, but struggles with poor water supplies that render his otherwise arable land barren mid-season.
“I can’t blame the government for everything. I know there is water shortage in the entire region. Farmers everywhere are desperate for water. But the losses were unbearable,” Ram told IPS.
He added that he expected a harvest of over 90,000 rupees (1,200 dollars) last year, but he collected barely half of that.
“The young trees were not getting enough water, turned into dry branches and my hopes of a profitable harvest were dashed,” Ram recalls.
The end of imagination
According to government estimates, 72 of the 75 districts (96 percent) in Uttar Pradesh, including Rampur, have recorded below normal rainfall this year. Data from India Meteorological DepartmentThis shows that in 59 districts rainfall was ‘very low’, with a significant deficit of less than 60% of the recommended rainfall.
“Even big districts like Meerut and Allahabad were not getting enough water for farming. How could we expect this remote area to get government help? Farming was becoming increasingly difficult, as was providing for our families and providing a good life for our children,” says farmer Suneel Singh.
Another farmer, Ram Dayal, described the dire situation: “I have a two-acre plot where I grow tomatoes. There was no enough rain and the government’s efforts to provide irrigation facilities were minimal. Our resources were too poor to rely on. We prayed for God’s help, otherwise it was the end of the road for us,” Dayal told IPS News.
Last year, a team of non-governmental organizations visited the area to understand the farmers’ problems. They learned about the severe water shortage that was turning fertile fields barren. The local village leaders and NGOs brought in scientific experts who suggested harvesting water and reusing wastewater for the farming community.
During surface irrigation, excess water runoff from the fields, known as irrigation tailwater, is mainly regarded as agricultural wastewater. A certain amount of tailwater drainage is necessary to ensure good water penetration and irrigation efficiency.
The experts recommended building artificial ponds to collect water cheaply, for example by digging trenches lined with polyethylene. Water could be stored for 4-5 days, allowing farmers to grow crops on small plots.
Following the guidelines, farmers like Suneel, Ram Dayal and Mohan dug 3-foot deep pits measuring 8×6 feet and cut channels to channel wastewater into the pits. This method allowed them to collect wastewater and use it for irrigation, water their crops twice a day and protect them from the scorching heat.
“I can now grow at least three crops a year. I grow cabbage, cauliflower and eggplant, which was impossible earlier,” says Mohan.
He hopes that his profit will double in the future, which will allow him to provide a comfortable life for his family. “I want my children to get an education, but I want them to continue farming. Earlier, I was worried about their future. Not anymore,” Mohan said.
IPS UN Office Report
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
