Delay in rainfall worries farmers in Ukhrul

Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, Jun 8 : Concerns are growing among the farmers in Ukhrul over the delay of pre-monsoon rain and subsequent drying of perennial water sources in the district.
Talking to this correspondent, a group of farmers from Hunphun/Ukhrul village said that there are two types of paddy land viz Laiyi Luishom which has natural irrigation facilities and Akang Luishom which depends entirely on monsoon.
Pahei, Lengcheng, Kasomkong, Faling Chihui, Langdang Kong, Khaiyur, Yaohi, Lungko, Khaireng and Tuira are some of the paddy lands with irrigation facilities and these fields are considered as the rice bowl of Hunphun/Ukhrul village for producing maximum rice.
According to the farmers, tilling and transplantation of saplings in Laiyi Lui have to be completed before the third week of May. However, farming activities in the areas have been delayed for more than two weeks due to lack of pre-monsoon showers while transplanted seedlings have started withering.
Tilling at Akang Lui has to be done during the monsoon.
A woman farmer from Hunphun Maitonphy Hongray expressed that saplings have started withering due to unavailability of water for irrigation while ploughing hasn't even started at many other paddy fields.
Water shortage has a direct impact on paddy sapling propagation and as such the production of rice will be reduced this year, she added.
The native rice varieties found in Ukhrul are Haosil, Rasham, Machang, Changkhui Mha, Mhashama, Nagara etc and they usually are harvested during October and November.
The much anticipated rainfall was witnessed yesterday in the forenoon, though for a brief period, bringing relief to the locals. The rest of the day, however, remained cloudy with no rain whatsoever.
The climate of the district is of temperate nature with a minimum and maximum degree of 3 degree celsius to 33 degree celsius and its average annual rainfall is 1767.7mm.
Ukhrul has been witnessing changes in the weather and environmental conditions, some even unprecedented due to wanton forest exploitation for economic reasons.