Even as the monsoon season officially commences, farmers across Golaghat's Sarupathar subdivision find themselves in a dire situation, desperately awaiting rainfall to salvage their parched paddy fields. Instead of the usual verdant expanse, vast agricultural lands now exhibit deep cracks in the soil, signaling a severe drought that has gripped the region.
Reports indicate that more than 50,000 hectares of agricultural land within the subdivision have been significantly impacted by the prolonged dry spell. Local cultivators have voiced profound frustration, stating that repeated appeals to authorities for assistance have yielded little effective relief. Many farmers lamented the recurring nature of the crisis, noting a similar plight last year without adequate long-term solutions.
“This is truly disheartening. Our paddy seedlings are completely dried up, almost burnt,” one farmer expressed, highlighting the severe crop damage. “We were told the existing irrigation system isn't working. We urge the government to establish proper and functional irrigation facilities across all our villages to prevent such losses.”
Adding to the farmers' distress, a senior official within the Sarupathar Irrigation Department confirmed a critical systemic failure. Despite the subdivision boasting 36 major and minor irrigation schemes designed to support agricultural activities, no operators have been officially appointed to run these crucial pumps. This operational void renders the existing infrastructure ineffective, leaving farmers vulnerable to the whims of erratic weather patterns and further deepening the agricultural crisis in the region.
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