By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 4 Jan: Lack of the usual winter rains in Uttarakhand and snowfall in the higher regions of the state this winter is becoming a cause of major concern for the farmers and horticulturists.
At this time of the year, a few spells of rain in the plains and lower hills and snowfall in the higher reaches is usual and this helps the farmers who have cultivated wheat and other Rabi season crops. At the same time, snowfall spells help the orchardists, particularly in the higher area in elongating the chilling hours required for a good production of temperate fruits like apple, pear, nectarine, peaches, plums, apricot, walnut and almonds, etc. Besides this, snowfall in the mid- range and higher range altitudes also help retain soil moisture for a longer period of time and help increase the yield.
However, there has been no rain so far in the major part of the state and no snowfall in the areas like Chakrata, Dhanolti, Uttarkashi in Garhwal and in many other areas of Kumaon hills and plains. Kumaon plains are major wheat cultivation areas of the state. According to experts, if there is no rain for the next two weeks, the wheat crop will be damaged due to a possible drought. Non-fulfilment of chilling hours can also affect apple yield which is the major temperate fruit crop in the state.
The total agricultural area in the state is 6.21 lakh hectares. In this, wheat is produced on 2.92 lakh hectare area. The area under horticulture crops is claimed to be 2.96 lakh hectares. At present, only 51 percent of the total agricultural area has irrigation facilities, while the rest is rain fed. In the hills, the total area under agriculture is higher than in the plains but irrigation facilities cover only around 12 percent of the area, forcing the farmers to remain dependent on the rains to sustain agriculture and horticulture.
While wheat crops in certain areas in Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar may not get damaged due availability of irrigation facility, the yield is bound to be affected.
While the Agriculture Department has not admitted to drought like conditions in the state, the farmers remain concerned since in case of crop loss due to drought or any other natural cause, they only get meagre compensation or relief from the government.
The State Horticulture Department also does not admit to any reports of damage of crops due to lack of rains or snowfall in the state so far. However, the farmers claim that if it does not rain over next two weeks, they are bound to incur huge losses.
