2 weeks ago
Nilgiris Hill Farmers Appeal for Irrigation Schemes Amid Rain Deficit
In the Nilgiris, a hilly place in India, farmers grow vegetables on the slopes.
This year, the southwest monsoon has not brought enough rain.
Because of the rain shortage, the vegetable crops are not growing as well as before.
Farmers say their harvest has dropped by about 30 to 40 percent.
Some farmers have irrigation systems that water their plants, so their crops survived.
These farmers are selling carrots and beetroot for 60 to 75 rupees per kilogram.
Farmers who depend only on rain are worried that their fields will fail.
The farmers have asked the government to allow digging bore wells and to provide irrigation from nearby water sources so their vegetable crops can survive.
Deficit southwest monsoon rains have cut hill vegetable yields in the Nilgiris by nearly 30 to 40 percent.
Farmers are appealing for special irrigation schemes using existing water sources to save their crops.
Carrot and beetroot prices have risen to Rs 60-75 per kg at auction centres in Mettupalayam.
Only farmers with advanced irrigation facilities are benefiting, while rain-dependent growers face crop losses.
C.K.N. Babu of the Nilgiris Potato and Vegetable Growers Association urged the government to sanction digging bore wells in farm fields.
- Who
- Hill farmers in the Nilgiris, represented by C.K.N. Babu, secretary of the Nilgiris Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
- What
- Appealing for special irrigation schemes as deficit monsoon rains reduce hill vegetable yields by 30 to 40 percent
- Where
- The Nilgiris hill region, with vegetable auctions at Mettupalayam in the foothills
- When
- Over the past two months of the southwest monsoon season
- Why
- Insufficient rain is hurting rain-dependent vegetable fields, so farmers need irrigation from existing water sources to save their crops
Key facts
- Region
- Nilgiris hills (Ooty)
- Crop yield decline
- 30-40 percent
- Affected crops
- Hill vegetables, especially carrot and beetroot
- Prices
- Rs 60-75 per kg at Mettupalayam auction centres
- Rain situation
- Insufficient rainfall over the past two months of the southwest monsoon
- Main appeal
- Special irrigation schemes and government-sanctioned bore wells in farm fields
- Spokesperson
- C.K.N. Babu, secretary, Nilgiris Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
Quotes
C.K.N. Babu
Secretary of the Nilgiris Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
“Due to insufficient rainfall over the past two months of the SW monsoon, the yielding capacity of hill vegetables has come down by nearly 30 to 40 per cent. Only those farmers who have irrigation facilities see the survival of their crops. The hill farmers desperately need avenues for irrigation facilities from nearby existing water sources. The government should sanction digging bore wells in the farm fields to tide over the crisis.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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