To combat the alarming depletion of groundwater, a total ban on summer paddy cultivation is set to be imposed in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, also known as the state's "food bowl". The ban will be in effect from February 1 to April 30. This decision comes as the water table in the district has dropped by 70 feet in the past decade, with some areas classified as "critical".
Udham Singh Nagar, situated in the Terai region, is a significant agricultural producer, yielding over 4.4 lakh metric tonnes of rice annually across 1.5 lakh hectares. However, this agricultural productivity has come at the cost of severe groundwater decline, exacerbated by water-intensive paddy cultivation. Producing 1 kg of paddy consumes approximately 5,000 liters of water, a quantity deemed unsustainable in the face of dwindling groundwater resources.
The administration's ban aims to address this crisis by discouraging the practice of cultivating summer paddy, which requires extensive irrigation during the driest months. District Magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadauria had previously enforced a ban on summer paddy cultivation without prior permission to mitigate the groundwater depletion. The current measure takes a stricter approach by implementing a complete ban for a defined period.
To support farmers during this transition, the administration is encouraging a shift to alternative crops like maize and pulses, which require significantly less water. Maize, for instance, needs only a fifth of the water required for paddy cultivation. An ₹8 crore project has been approved to promote maize farming as a sustainable alternative. The government has also committed to linking maize production with bio-ethanol plants to ensure farmers have assured markets for their produce.
Farmers with land unsuitable for maize or sugarcane may seek special permission for paddy cultivation. Authorities are also planning to raise awareness among farmers regarding the environmental impacts of summer paddy cultivation and highlight the benefits of alternative crops. Officials intend to visit paddy cultivation areas and engage directly with farmers to promote these sustainable options.
The ban on summer paddy cultivation is a crucial step towards preserving the groundwater table in Uttarakhand's agricultural heartland. By promoting crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, the administration hopes to mitigate the environmental impact of intensive farming and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture in the region. The success of this initiative hinges on the cooperation of farmers and the effective implementation of support mechanisms to facilitate the transition to less water-intensive crops.
