MARGAO: Farmers have complained about various problems they faced due to erratic rainfall this season, such as the absence of any rainfall in the first month of the monsoon, which was followed by one of the heaviest spells of rains that led to crop losses due to submerged fields and then having to resort to delayed harvest due to late showers. The farmers have also sought assistance and support from the government in dealing with such scenarios.
These issues were raised during the village-wise discussion at the meetings that were conducted across the State by Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir (GFPK), to send in feedback for the draft Agricultural Policy.
“The farmers have expressed their frustration and anxiety over the erratic rains this season. They said that the rains have affected their crops in various ways, such as causing waterlogging, soil erosion, pest infestation, fungal diseases, and crop failure. The rains have wreaked havoc on many crops, such as paddy and vegetables, causing them to suffer severe damage. The farmers have also encountered challenges in planting the second crop, like ‘orsando’, watermelons, etc, due to the unpredictable weather conditions,” said GFPK President Jack Mascarenhas as he listened to the woes of farmers across the state.
Incidentally, many farmers also compared the current situation with the past, when the rains were more regular and predictable.
“The farmers said that they used to plan their agricultural activities according to the expected seasonal patterns and follow the traditional wisdom of their ancestors. They said that they could rely on the monsoon to provide adequate and timely rainfall for their crops and also prepare for the dry season by storing water and using efficient irrigation methods. They said that climate change has disrupted the natural cycle of the seasons and made it harder for them to cope with the uncertainties and risks,” said Mascarenhas. Farmers also lamented about what led to a delayed harvest this year in some cases.
“Some of the farmers who had sown their crops early in the season had to wait for the rains to stop before they could harvest their produce. Some of the farmers who had sown their crops late in the season had to face the risk of losing their crops to the late showers that occurred in October and November. The delayed harvest also affected the quality and quantity of the crops and reduced the market value and income of the farmers,” said Mascarenhas.
GFPK members also spoke about how the farmers have asked the government to take several steps to help them in terms of assistance.
“Providing technical and financial support to the farmers to adopt climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices and technologies, such as crop diversification, organic farming, rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, etc,’ said Mascarenhas, while talking about another demand from the farmers.
The last two steps were for creating awareness and education among the farmers and the public about the causes and effects of climate change and the ways to mitigate and adapt to it; and for strengthening the disaster management and preparedness systems.
