Ambala growers stare at losses due to waterlogged rice fields

By Nitish Sharma

While rain brings cheer for paddy farmers, excessive waterlogging in low-lying paddy fields due to overflowing of seasonal rivers and accumulated rainwater have left the farmers anxious.

As per the information, as much as 800-1,000 acres of paddy fields are lying submerged due to waterlogging.

Nearly 92,000 acres in Ambala is expected to be under paddy this season. Over 70 per cent transplantation was completed and only the major area of Basmati belt in the Ambala Block 1 was pending.

Rajiv Sharma, a farmer from Hasanpur village, said, “I have transplanted paddy in nearly 15 acres, of which, 8-10 acres is lying submerged under rainwater and it is unlikely to survive. I have already spent Rs 5,000 per acre on transplantation and another Rs 2,000 per acre on the saplings. We have to wait for the water to recede and then start the re-transplantation work. Shortage of labour and good quality sapling will be another task for the farmers now.”

Gurmeet Singh, a paddy farmer from Majri village, said, “Nearly 80-90 acre fields in our village is lying submerged. The water coming from adjoining villages is flowing through our fields. The recently transplanted paddy has been submerged under water and the crop is on the verge of being destroyed. Due to the current situation, the farmers will suffer a heavy loss as they have to re-transplant the paddy once the water level recedes. I had spent around Rs 10,000 per acre on the paddy transplantation, including the labour charges, costs, diesel and medicines. The Irrigation Department should take some measures and provide relief to the paddy farmers.”

Malkit Singh, another farmer, said, “Rains are good for the paddy but excessive rain and waterlogging is harmful at this point as the paddy saplings are very small. There is already a shortage of farm labourers and due to replantation work, the demand will further increase. The farmers are already going through a tough phase and the government should take adequate measures to protect the farmers.”

Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) Ambala Dr Jasvinder Saini said, “The paddy farmers in the Barara, Saha and Mullana areas may suffer losses due to waterlogging in the fields. The overflowing Markanda and Begna rivers have entered the agricultural fields and the water is flowing continuously. About 800-1,000 acres is lying submerged. If the paddy remains submerged for 2-3 days then the farmer will face losses. The farmers should try to get the excessive water drained out at the earliest. The farmers will get adequate time for re-transplantation and they should try to get it done by the second week of July.”

This article has been republished from The Tribune.