Lack of rain and snow dries up crops in Uttarakhand

Buraaskhanda (Uttarakhand), Jan 15 (ANI): Lack of rain and snow dried up crops in Uttarakhand, raising spectre of drought in the region.

The fields, which produced crops, are lying barren. The crops have dried up. The little crops that were left standing in the fields have fallen prey to frost.

Lack of rainfall has meant dipping moisture level in the fields, preventing sowing of any crop in the fields.

"Due to no snowfall or rainfall this season, all the fields are lying barren. We used to prepare the fields around this time for cultivation of potato and wheat, but since there is no water, we cannot even do that," said Mahavir Singh, a farmer.

Due to lack of rainfall, the ground temperature in the fields has also risen making it difficult for the farmers to sow.

"The temperature in the ground has risen so we will not be able to grow anything in it right now. If it had rained or snowed, then we would have benefited, but now since there is no rainfall or snowfall, we cannot grow anything," said Sundar Singh, another farmer.

Meanwhile, the farmers have appealed to the State Government for help, which has promised all the necessary assistance if a drought like condition arises in the state.

"If a drought like situation arise,s we will take steps to help the farmers. There is a set scale by which we judge whether the condition can be termed as drought or not. We will gather the data, study it and then take any decision," said Subhash Kumar, Principal Secretary to state Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri, Uttarakhand.

The crops hit by lack of rainfall and snow is wheat, potatoes, rice, vegetables like peas, cauliflowers, and fruits like plums, apple, apricot and several lentils as well.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the country's economy with more than half the population relying on the sector for livelihood.

Irregular rainfall, frost, pest infestation and floods all this leads to crops damage worth thousands of rupees every year.

The government has promised assistance to the farmers if a serious situation arises like drought or floods.By Ashish Goel (ANI)