New Irrigation Channel in Jangphutse Chewog Resolves Water Shortage Woes for Farmers

…𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚, 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅

Phurpa Wangmo

Jangphutse Chewog, located in the Toedtsho Gewog of Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag, has recently witnessed the completion of a much-needed irrigation channel. Constructed at a cost of 2.3 million, this crucial infrastructure project was successfully finalized on June 15, 2023.

For several years, the inhabitants of this region have grappled with a severe scarcity of irrigation water, significantly impacting their agricultural activities. However, with the introduction of the new irrigation channel, the farmers of Jangphutse Chewog are now reaping the benefits of improved access to water.

The Gup of Toedtsho Gewog expressed profound satisfaction with the newly established irrigation channel. “Our chewog was long plagued by the absence of a proper irrigation system, causing significant hardships for our resilient farmers,” he said. “However, with the advent of this state-of-the-art irrigation channel, the agricultural landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. The farmers are now rejoicing in an abundance of water, heralding a new era of prosperity and agricultural growth.”

“This revolutionary development has brought immense relief to the hardworking farmers of Jangphutse Chewog and moreover their joy knows no bounds as they now have access to a consistent and reliable water supply, enabling them to irrigate their crops with ease”, added the Gup.

Expressing his gratitude, Tawpo, the Tshogpa of Jangphutse village, remarked, “The convenience brought by this irrigation channel to our chewog is immeasurable. We now have 100 percent self-sufficiency in water for irrigation, sparing us from the hardships of the past.”

Tshering Dorji, a 35-year-old farmer from Jangphutse village, recounted the challenges faced due to water shortages in the past. “In the absence of adequate water supply, disputes with neighbors were common occurrences. Some neighbors would divert water midstream, leaving our paddy fields parched. As paddy cultivation forms a vital part of our commercial farming, apart from vegetables, our annual income of around 50,000 to 100,000 relies heavily on it,” he stated.

Tshering Zangpo 39, another farmer from Jangphutse village, expressed the convenience brought about by the new irrigation channel. “Gone are the days of laboriously cleaning the water source before commencing paddy cultivation,” he revealed. “Each household no longer needs to send individuals to maintain the water supply and with the introduction of the new irrigation channel, this burden has been alleviated.”

Tashi Phuntsho, a 26-year-old farmer, highlighted the exceptional advantages offered by the irrigation channel during the monsoon season. “Our agricultural pursuits heavily rely on ample water supply, particularly during the monsoons,” he emphasized.

Tashi also said, “The implementation of the irrigation channel has had a profound impact on the farmers of our Chewog, particularly those engaged in paddy cultivation. With close to 20 households’ dedicated to this essential agricultural practice, the introduction of the channel has resulted in a remarkable reduction in their workload. Previously, it would take us two strenuous days of labor to accomplish our work. However, with the abundance of water resources now flowing through our fields, we can complete our work efficiently within a single day and with this newfound efficiency allows us to finish our tasks on time.”

The completion of the irrigation channel in Jangphutse Chewog marks a significant milestone in addressing the long-standing water scarcity issue faced by the farmers. With improved access to irrigation water, the residents can now look forward to enhanced agricultural productivity and a more sustainable livelihood.