“Will decline in waterlevel in Rivers a Cause of Concern”

Why we always blame that Agriculture production has always been at the mercy of unpredictable weather, and declining water levels in rivers and streams especially in Kashmir is making the agriculture production which is the backbone for most of the people an even more vulnerable enterprise.If there are proper planning, management and infrastructure from the stakeholder departments then the increasing changes in land use patters from the last few years won’t happen.What is the fun of sowing other crops in these paddy fields if they too won’t receive rains and irrigation on time? As a matter of fact, Kashmir, which once used to produce sufficient agriculture produce is now meagerly producing these cereals and if with the same pace the change continues, Kashmir will very soon be importing every bit of the food, which the people of Kashmir will consume from the neighboring states. Jammu and Kashmir being a riparian U.T.and has abundant water bodies to overcome the growing and daily demands of people. The water bodies are the foundation of Jammu and Kashmir both for its economy and ecology. Then why people are changing their land use patterns from agriculture to horticulture and commercial activities? Is the declining water level in rivers only reason for such an increasing land use change? The Agricultural sector is the backbone of J&K economy and nearly 70% of population is directly or indirectly engaged in agricultural and allied occupations and this sector is totally dependent on water.This year the less precipitation in winters causing abrupt receding water level in major water bodies like Jhelum and its tributes in summers. These water bodies are the main source of irrigation for the agricultural and horticultural activities in Kashmir. The alarming decline in water level leading farmers to change their land use patterns as there is scarcity of water for their agricultural fields. Authorities blame the drought like winter and low water levels are the main causes. According to a news from agricultural department that about 15-20 percent paddy land in district Anantnag is getting affected due to shortage of water and said that these paddy land has no chances of any irrigation facilities. Not only this there are other districts which have same problems and are facing scarcity of irrigation for their paddy fields. Being an eye witness I have seenenough water in the rivers and streams that can fulfill the demands of the farmers and boosts the agriculture sector but the major problems are the lack of infrastructure like irrigation pump sheds in these areas as the water level in rivers and streams is deep and the agricultural fields are on the upland side and without any mechanical help there are no possibility of irrigation water to these paddy fields.Daily we heard and saw news coming from the people that they plough their paddy fields due to shortage of water in the streams and rivers. The livelihood of most of the people in Kashmir is totally dependent on paddy but in absence of irrigation facilities their livelihood is in danger.According to these stakeholder departments farmers should sow other crops in their fields, but is it only paddy that needs water? what about other crops, are not they dependent on irrigation facility?then what is the fun of sowing other crops if there are not rains on time or they the crops don’t get irrigation on time?
The main problem is not with the decline in water level in rivers that compelled farmers to change their land use patterns but with the proper management, planning and infrastructure. This shows the helplessness and ground level work of stakeholder departments who always blame that they have enough infrastructure to fight and deal with the drought like situations in Kashmir. If there are irrigation pump sheds available in the areas where there are enough agricultural potential then people who are totally dependent on the paddy cultivationwon’thave to face such tough times. From last few years we have witnessed huge changes in land use patterns in Kashmir even when there was enough water for irrigation purposes in these rivers and streams but these problems happen due to lack of infrastructure and management from the stakeholder departments. People have converted their paddy fields into horticultural and commercial activities due to scarcity of water, this not only troubles the problems of farmers but also the stakeholder departments because this will increase the growing dependency of food on other states.
Another reason for such conversion is the encroachment and shrinking of the local water bodies and the irrigation canals by the people and the authorities have no power to recover and drugging these water bodies and irrigation canals which once are the main source of irrigation facilities in these areas and boosts agricultural sector in J&K. The deep illegal riverbed mining is another major cause of irrigation water scarcity in Kashmir. Another big reason is that the Agriculture is no longer a profitable livelihood option due to increasing labor force and less production. If proper planning, management and infrastructure is made available the authorities connected with the delivery of irrigation won’t find any difficulty overcoming shortage of irrigation water in Kashmir which further increases the agricultural production and reduces the dependency for food on other states. If protected and recovered the encroached water bodies and irrigation canals, Kuhls, then these local water bodies alone can fulfill the demands of the people. So, authorities should come with a proper map and planning to save the backbone of the J&K before it is too late.
(The author is a Environmental Specialist at J&K Climate Centre. Views are his own)