Mir Iqbal Hussain Chattergami
A teacher’s old warning about snow and paddy fields deserves our attention today Years ago, one of my teachers said something that sounded strange at the time. He warned that a day could come when children in Kashmir might have to be taken outside the Valley just to see snow. He also spoke with concern about the future of Kashmir’s paddy fields. Today, those words no longer sound exaggerated. They make us think about the changes taking place around us.
Snowfall has become less predictable.
Weather patterns are changing, and agricultural land is increasingly being replaced by buildings and roads. At the same time, our natural water sources are coming under growing pressure. This raises an important question: is Kashmir’s water security also becoming vulnerable? A recent NHK World program used the term “water bankruptcy”. The expression does not mean that all water suddenly disappears. It refers to a situation where the supply of reliable water is no longer enough to meet the needs of people, agriculture and nature. This is something Kashmir cannot afford to ignore.
We often feel that Kashmir will always have enough water because we have rivers, lakes, springs, snow and glaciers. But having water resources does not automatically mean having enough water when and where it is needed. Snow in the mountains is not only part of the beauty of Kashmir. It is also an important source of water. Snow melts and feeds streams and rivers. Any significant change in snowfall, temperature and the timing of snowmelt can therefore affect water availability further downstream. There is another change taking place in front of our eyes. Paddy fields are disappearing.
Agricultural land is being converted for residential and commercial purposes in many areas. This cannot be blamed entirely on climate change. It is also a consequence of changing land use and development choices.
There are, however, examples from other parts of the country that Kashmir can learn from. A recent report about Punjab and Haryana highlighted efforts to encourage paddy farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices such as Direct-Seeded Rice, which can reduce water use. Farmers are also being encouraged through financial benefits linked to carbon credits.
“The teacher’s warning about disappearing snow and paddy fields highlights a preventable future rather than an inevitable one. Kashmir can still secure its water and agricultural future by protecting natural resources, supporting farmers, preserving land, and educating the youth. The true challenge is ensuring long-term resource sustainability for future generations.”
Kashmir has different soil, climate and farming conditions, so the same methods cannot simply be copied here. But the idea behind them is worth considering.
If the government encourages research and local pilot projects, farmers in Kashmir could also be supported in adopting farming practices that save water and are better suited to a changing climate. Agricultural universities, research institutions and government departments can work together to identify suitable methods and provide farmers with training, demonstrations and financial support. This could help conserve water while also making farming more sustainable and helping protect the future of paddy cultivation in the Valley. Our schools have an important role too.
Climate change should not remain something children only read about in textbooks. They should understand why snowfall matters, what happens when springs dry up, why paddy fields are important and why wetlands and other water bodies need protection. They should also learn what they can do in their daily lives. Saving water at home, avoiding pollution of streams and lakes and encouraging others to use natural resources responsibly may appear to be small steps, but collective action can make a difference.
This is where climate education becomes meaningful. It should help young people move from simply knowing about environmental problems to understanding them and taking action. My teacher’s warning about snow and paddy fields was not a prediction that we must accept. It was a warning about the direction in which things could go. Kashmir still has an opportunity to make better choices. We can protect our water sources, support our farmers, safeguard agricultural land and teach our children to care for the environment around them. The question is not simply whether Kashmir has enough water today. The question is whether we are doing enough to ensure that our children have enough tomorrow.
(The author is a teacher and Environmental Science researcher pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
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