Lhakpa Quendren

Zhemgang — Irrigation water shortages are compelling farmers in several dzongkhags to leave their fields fallow, sparking disputes over water allocation during the paddy cultivation season in remote villages.

In Zhemgang, water scarcity for agriculture has become a serious challenge, triggering conflicts among farmers competing for limited resources.

During the paddy cultivation season, chiwog tshogpas often mediate disputes.

“When I receive complaints, I encourage cooperation and discourage discord. Such conflicts sometimes even involve parents and their children. We are a small community and should remain united like a family,” said Ngawang Kinga, the Shingkhar Tshogpa.

Conflicts persist despite the implementation of a water-allocation system designed to address disputes, which provides each village with irrigation water every five days.

“Some farmers try to divert water to their fields, even at night, while others struggle to secure enough for their crops,” said a concerned resident.

Paddy cultivation is delayed as each household receives water every three days, requiring nearly a month to reach the last household under the allocation system. Shingkhar chiwog, home to about 50 households across seven villages, has about 200 acres of wetlands.

“We depend entirely on rice cultivation, unlike other districts that also grow vegetables. When water is scarce, farmers are forced to compete for access,” said Ngawang Kinga.

Water shortages have sparked concerns about the potential for physical confrontations, further intensifying the challenges faced by farming communities. Without effective management and sustainable solutions, these shortages will continue to strain relationships among farmers.

Farmers in Goshing Gewog face a similar predicament. With most relying solely on rainwater for their crops, they foresee significant challenges in the future.

Lamtang Tshogpa Zangpo expressed concern that conflicts over water shortages could escalate dangerously if sufficient water is not made available.

“During the paddy planting season, I frequently mediate disputes. So far, we have managed to resolve such issues at the village level without involving higher authorities,” he said.

It is increasingly difficult, he said, to convince people and make them understand, as everyone wants equal access to development activities and resource distribution.

The drying up of water sources has further aggravated shortages, particularly during winter. In some cases, gewog staff have had to travel long distances to fetch water.

“Some even go directly to the water source to divert water to their homes,” Zangpo said.

Challenges and sustainable solutions

With insufficient water preventing farmers from cultivating their fields, sustainable solutions are urgently needed to address both drinking and irrigation needs. Such measures are essential to ensure equitable resource distribution and sustain the livelihoods of farmers now and in the future.

The Shingkhar gewog administration has allocated Nu 300,000 for canal maintenance, but residents believe the issue will persist unless a new canal is constructed. The community has identified an alternative water source at Mubrang, four kilometres away, but the gewog has cited budget constraints as a major hurdle for the project.

Local government leaders warn that if these challenges are not addressed, more people may abandon their villages in search of better opportunities elsewhere. With climate change intensifying, water shortages are projected to worsen in the coming years.

Hundreds of acres of wetlands across the dzongkhag remain barren and overgrown with bushes as more farmers abandon their land each year.

“Without adequate irrigation water, the government’s plans to revive fallow lands are unachievable at the moment,” said Lamtang Tshogpa Zangpo.

As of 2019, Zhemgang recorded 550.13 acres of fallow wetlands. Water shortages have rendered 10 acres of wetland across four villages in Lamtang, and six acres belonging to four households in Shingkhar chiwog uncultivable.

Jurme Dorji, a farmer in Shingkhar, was unable to grow rice last season. His two acres of wetland, which should have been lush with rice, were instead planted with buckwheat. Jurme spent Nu 10,000 hiring a power tiller to prepare his terraces, hoping for sufficient rain and irrigation water, but his hopes were dashed.

“It didn’t rain enough,” he said.

Tensions run high when there is no clear system for equitable water distribution or when some farmers feel others have better access.

“In the past, there were no water issues. Now, wetlands in the lower villages are left fallow as the upper villages have greater access to irrigation water,” Jurme said.

Existing water sources in Shingkhar are stretched thin, with institutions like the Renewable Natural Resources Extension Centre, a school, and Trong village relying on the same source for drinking water, residents say.

Under the 13th Five-Year Plan, 69 irrigation channels—32 new and 37 for renovation—were proposed across all eight gewogs in the dzongkhag. Work on the 18.6-kilometre Wangdigang Integrated Drinking and Irrigation Scheme in Trong Gewog, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), began in November 2024.

During the fiscal year 2025-26, the construction of the 8.6-kilometre Rongdigang Irrigation Scheme for Nyimzhong-Thajong in Shingkhar and the 4-kilometre Kalamti Irrigation Scheme in Bardo Gewog, funded by the Government of India, is set to commence.

Tashi Phuntsho, Zhemgang’s deputy chief agriculture officer, said that some irrigation schemes were proposed under the Join Together Society Korea, a non-governmental organisation founded by Korean Buddhist master Pomnyun Sunim. Other schemes are planned to be submitted for annual gewog and dzongkhag grants.

“We are exploring funds to construct additional schemes based on priority,” he said.

The government, during its election campaign, pledged to ensure water access for every home and farm to meet agricultural needs. However, under the 13th Plan, only 24 irrigation canals spanning 140 kilometres are planned for construction, which will cover 4,000 acres and benefit 2,700 households nationwide.