Scanty rain spells woes galore for farmers in Karbi Anglong

From a Correspondent

Diphu, November 29: Due to alleged lack lustre effort on the part of the agriculture and irrigation department, more than  3,000 bighas of  fertile agriculture land remained barren this year at north and south  Phonglokpet, Sampathar, Bomroi and Pub-Silputa of Bakalia area in Karbi Anglong.

Due to scanty rainfall and lack of sufficient irrigation facilities and ‘negligent’ attitude of the agriculture department, a large stretch of land has been left uncultivated, thus leaving poor farmers hapless. More than 200 farmers are in trouble after being uble to reap their harvest.

Most of these farmers are fighting tooth-and-il for their survival.

“I have taken agricultural loan from the bank. Now I do not know how to repay the debt,” one of the farmers, Longsing Timung said.  The farmers also expressed their displeasure at the ‘ictivity’ of the irrigation and agriculture department. They also complained of not getting a single drop of water from the Kakijan Irrigation scheme or any help from the agriculture department.