DOOMDOOMA, Aug 20 - The sudden change of the climate has brought uncertainty to the future of thousands of farmers of Sadiya subdivision in Tinsukia district. Due to shortage of rainfall, 11,682 hactres of paddy field have completely dried up. Consequently, farmers have failed to plough the field and sow the seeds of sali paddy.
In Sadiya subdivision, there are 1220 farmer families in 136 villages. Situated on the north bank of Brahmaputra river, these families are totally dependent on agriculture and they are now passing their days in uncertainty.
According to subdivisional agricultural office of Sadiya, farmers could not sow sali paddy in 90% of the fields due to lack of sufficient water. According to an unofficial source, 95% of the fields could not be sown. To cope up with this situation, the subdivisional agriculture office in Sadiya is making necessary arrangements to distribute 961 quintals of black gram or black lentils (fatimah) seeds to these 1220 farmer families.
It may be mentioned here that there are three irrigation plants in Sadiya. But, all the three plants have failed to supply water to the paddy fields during the time of sali paddy cultivation for the last 15 years. These three plants which were constructed at a cost of Rs 17 core has become �white elephants� only.
�Had the government taken timely steps to activate these three irrigation plants, 1220 farmer families would have been able to cultivate their fields,� said a farmer.
