Rabi crops on the verge of destruction due to absence of rain, snow in Uttarakhand

Rabi crops on the verge of destruction due to absence of rain, snow in Uttarakhand

B.D. Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Jan 18

The Rabi crops in the rain fed hilly areas of entire Uttarakhand state is on the verge of destruction due to near draught like conditions prevailing in the region in the absence of rains for the past more than three months. The rain fed agriculture in the hills of Uttarakhand require atleast two good rainfall from October onwards for better Rabi crops but during the current season there has not been a drop of rain since the last monsoon rain.

“The losses to rabi crops in unirrigated hilly region has increased to from 25 to 50 per cent during the 165 days Rabi crop period due to famine like situation ,”said Ritu Tamta, an agricultural officer in Nainital.

In Almora, where over 75 percent Rabi crop area falls under rainwater fed region and  no rains from last 3 months has resulted into drying of over 18 to 50 percent crops.

“Where as river basin areas like Bhikiasain, Salt and Someswar have witnessed near 18 percent rabi crop losses in the first survey done by agricultural department. Dry areas like Daniya and Langara block have almost lost 40 percent rabi crop in this no rain situation from last 3 months,” said Shakher Dwivedi, a journalist based in Almora.

I.A. Khan, a former director of Horticulture department of Uttarakhand, said that high temperature is damaging for temperate fruits like apples, as these fruits require  approximately 2 or 3 degree celsius degree temperature in winter to break the dormancy of plants and to get good flowering, budding and opening of budding to become healthy and quality fruits.

“Absence of low temperatures due to lack of rain and snowfall is not suitable for  these fruits. If situation remain so for long, the quality and quantity of temperate fruits in the Himalayan region will be affected,” said Khan.

In Chamoli district, the villagers of Ban village, have started praying to local deities namely ‘Latu’ and ‘Nanda Devi’ seeking their intervention in rains and snowfall for their crops.”if the rains and snowfall does not occur in a week’s time, the villagers will start “Dhyan Sadhana’ at  the temples of local land deity ‘Latu’ that will continue till the rains and snowfall occur, ” said Hira Singh Bisht, a villager of Ban village in Chamoli.

In ‘Him nagari’ Munsiyari where tourists flock to view snowclad ‘Panchachuli’ range of Himalaya and live snowfall in winter months, the snowfall has not occurred since October last year. “It has resulted into decreased water flow  from natural springs, continuous foggy conditions and return of tourists who come here in expectation of live snowfall and view of  bright Panchachuli peaks,” said Puran Pandey, a local resident of Munsiyari town.

In Vyans valley of Dharchula sub-division of Pithoragarh district, another tourists attraction, “Om Parvat” and “Adi Kailash” peaks, are devoid of snow.

“As ‘Adi Kailash’ is closed these days, the tourists reaching Darma valley to view Panchachuli peaks from Dantu base, have been disappointed finding snowless peaks,” said Shalu Datal, a resident of Dantu village of the valley.