Arriving in Sindahnur at 730 as planned most have meant that the bus driver stepped on it. We went to find our headquarters, had a bath and went to meet the CADA officer. We had some food, and then went to the CADA headquarters to get answers to some of our initial questions. There was a strange “No comment” and “ask the Irrigation department” on some of our particular matters. The one officer however spoke up and revealed several good juicy stories as to why there is and has been a violation in cropping patters. This official claimed that apparently there was a minister some 20 years back, wishing to win the election, promising enough water for everyone, meaning everyone could grow paddy – the most water intensive crop. This lead to that everyone started growing paddy. Head reach, mid reach and also in tail end. There are many more reasons, but he claimed this was the main one.
The vicious thing about paddy is that it requires to literally standing in water throughout the season. This is leading to a drastic soil adjustment, which again means to shift to a less water intensive crop after you have grown paddy, is more or less impossible. It therefore becomes a vicious circle… Rice also operates with a constant market price, which makes it a safe option – so that is another obvious factor for why the farmers chose to grow it. Horticulture crops (tomato, onion), chili and other crops vary and fluctuates in price so is not as safe. But what to do when the water is not there? It’s complicated and the answers are not exactly many…
I could go on here, but tired and the electricity just shut. (Happens on a regular bases here.)
Night,
Mai
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