I farm my paddy fields in Hingurakgoda. I depend on water from the Minneriya Wewa (Tank) My fields are at the end of the Ela, tributary of the canal. I do not get any water allocation, as the farmers further ahead of me have diverted the water to their fields.
I have spent a lot of money to plough my fields and transplant my paddy to ensure a high yield, but due to many factors beyond my control I may have no option but to abandon my fields and take the loss. I was told to cultivate only 75% of my land which I did so and took only 75% of the allocation of the fertilizer subsidy available to paddy farmers.
All the other farmers took their whole allocation and planted all their land and I have to pay the price for obeying the request, while those ahead of me being further up the water receiving end, benefit.
I am not the only farmer to suffer, many farmers further down from the canals origins are also suffer ring with no water as those farmers up stream have already taken the water. I assume that owing to lack of water in the Hill country and Kandy in particular less water was diverted on the Yoda Ela to the Giritale and Minneriya tanks.
How can we be put in an unbearable situation like this, as we have nothing left with all our savings invested in our land. We will now become slaves to the money lenders and will be in debt for the rest of our lives. Is taking poison the only answer to our problems.
There is no one to hear our voice or understand our predicament through no fault of our own.
The allocation of water to fields must be better managed especially for this season as water is a precious resource which is abused by those farther ahead of the line than us, where the excess goes into the kunu ela and into rivers that by pass us. How can this annual problem be resolved satisfactorily. Can anyone help us
2 comments:
Perhaps you can come to terms with the farmers up stream with you. Arrange a meeting with all the farmers that depends on your canal for water. If it is seven it will be great. Every one of the farmers will have one day's worth of water for him self diverted to his/her fields. Next day the next farmer gets his water ration. So on the circle will repeat. Perhaps the first round should be until all the fields are wet. So it will reduce the amount of water needed next time. But if the number of farmers are more than seven reduce time to half a day instead of a day. Hope it works.
Hey im also interested in farming, i learnt a lot from your blog. hope your still farming ! how can i contact you ? thanks
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