The Monsoon rain has triggered landslides and disrupted road communication and power supply. It has also damaged crops, washed away bridges and threatened homes. However for the farmers in Tsirang, Dagana and Trongsa, it was a blessing in disguise.

Rain is what the farmers of Dangdung under Langthel geog in Trongsa have been praying for.

That’s because farmers in these villages have not been able to transplant their paddy so far due to acute shortage of water.

The farmers said they have suffered from water scarcity every paddy transplantation season for over a decade now.

The intensity differed from season to season. In some season the transplantation was delayed, at other times, they had to leave some of their field fallow.

Their only assured source of water is a small stream in the village. This is not adequate and when the Monsoon rain fails, the water level in this small stream drops. This year though, things couldn’t be better. They have had abundant rain and the farmers are busy transplanting paddy.

However they feel the delay caused by the late arrival of the Monsoon may affect the production. Water scarcity is a constant problem. The village Tshogpa said they don’t even have enough drinking water.

The District Agriculture officer told BBS that they have plans to open irrigation canal for the village. Dangdung village has about 250 acres of wet land.

Meanwhile in Tsirang and Dagana too, the recent torrential rain was welcomed by the farmers.

It has prevented the farmers from keeping their paddy field fallow. Scanty rain at the start of paddy transplantation season has left the farmers in Tsirang and Dagana worried.

However the recent continuous rain came to their rescue. As our correspondent Sonam Ugyen reports farmers are busy transplanting paddy.

Their worries do not end with it. Paddy transplantation season is already over.

Farmers are now concerned that the delay might affect the yield. Source: BBS