The soil seems to have lost all moisture here due to the absence of the winter rains in the Henwal valley, Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt. As a result, the wheat, sweet peas, tomato and other crops are being affected by water scarcity. Farmers here fear that in case no rainfall comes in the coming days, they may have to struggle even to recover the money spent on seeds. The change in the pattern of rainfall in this region is being seen by many as an outcome of climate change.
The farmers and fruit cultivators in the Henwal valley and Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt are a worried lot these days. The farmers are anxious because these areas have not received any rainfall yet in this season with more than a week of January having passed. Some of the crops standing in the farms in Henwal valley and Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt have started drying due to the protracted absence of rain. The local farmers point out that in the first place, the sowing of the crop had also been undertaken late due to the delay in rain. The continued absence of rain has resulted in the soil being left without moisture now which has also started exerting drought effects on various crops.
During the ongoing winter season, this area has recorded only about 14.6 millimetres of rain so far. Cultivator and activist Vijay Jadadhari said that due to the impact of climate change the farmers are facing the loss of their entire year’s income. The families where agriculture is the sole means of livelihood are facing starvation like situation due to this. The State Government should soon provide financial compensation to the farmers who have suffered such loss of crop, he added.
According to the Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri campus agriculture climate officer Dr RG Upadhyay, the weather in the region is exhibiting the effects of climate change. The absence of rainfall has resulted in a partial drought like condition in the soil. At present there is no strong possibility of rainfall, he added.