top of page

खेती से परे - लाहौल में खेत-आधारित व्यवसाय

_D9A4754_edited.jpg

Chicham Village; Photo courtesy: Tanvi Dutta

Tanzin Dawa: How has it changed? 

 

Dikit Lamo: We have been experiencing extremely erratic weather conditions these days. I am 40 now and from my experience, I think it is due to changing weather patterns. We used to have snowfall that levelled our houses and had to clear it with the help of our neighbours! Such was time. There’s lushful greenery in our barley fields and our harvests were abundant. In our village, Chu-mik (spring water) gushed with fresh water - we got to choose from myriad streams flowing around – cold, sweet water to drink while farming. From the past 10 years, there’s been a considerable decrease in precipitation. We used to look up at the sky in hope for rain but to no avail. This year was particularly unexpected. There was very little snowfall during winter and we were even unsure whether we would even get to till our land when summer arrives. We, somehow, adjusted to the difficult situation by either carrying a water tanker to our fields and initiating the seeding work. It worsened as months passed by, we had to leave many of our fields half irrigated or completely fallow. There’s no hope for crops this year.

barren fields _ dried canals  (11).JPG

Barren fields and dried reservoir; Photo courtesy: Chhunit Kesang

_MG_0886__edited.jpg

Domesticated Yaks; Photo courtesy: Unknown

Tanzin Dawa: What do you think is the cause for such changes?

Dikit Lamo: I think it is due to changing weather patterns. They say it is called global warming in English and has to do with plastic usage. I am not sure how it is interrelated and how it impacts our fields here in Spiti but I do believe it. I think about it a lot and think of avoiding plastic usage on my level. But will it make a difference on a larger level? I think collective action is needed. To ensure timely snowfall, we have to revive our traditional ways of living. Rituals are performed according to an astrologically and agriculturally influenced calendar and we have to bring back those traditions and belief systems. We also think about our children’s generation and preserve our natural resources. Tourism has also impacted the way we channel our resources. It is getting extremely rampant nowadays. We have to devise an internal resource and waste management system to reduce impact on nature. I think plantations will be beneficial in desert areas like ours. I hope that will reduce the effect of global warming and our fields begin to blossom again and our kuls brimming fresh snow water.

Padma Norzom: Water situation? It is scarce everywhere this year. In Chicham, even drinking water is getting difficult for us. Our barley and green peas field are all drying up before harvest season due to receding water in our kuls. There was just no water for irrigation and we are forced to abandon our fields. Because of declining water sources, our land, soil, pasture is all drying up and forage availability and grazing system is also impacted.

5 (5).jpg

Dried water canal in Chicham

Tanzin Dawa: Was it the same last year?

Padma Norzom : It used to be enough to sustain our farm work and to feed our cattle but this year has been unfortunate. There was no snowfall during winter and all our spring waters dried up. My jersey cow also looks very weak and without adequate water to drink, milk production has become very less. I stopped selling milk this year. Livestock feeding and water intake behaviours are also negatively impacted and when sent out in the wild for grazing, they gallop towards greener pastures!

Tanzin Dawa: How do we resolve this? Is there a way we can utilise water from the Spiti river?

Padma Norzom : Yes, river water can certainly be channelled but it will be a bit strenuous and resource intensive as it is located far from the village area. If the government can help us, it will be a huge blessing. Some farmers have tried irrigating their green pea fields with generators. But the diesel operated generators turned out very expensive and it was simply not feasible for small farmers like us who also spent a lot of money buying green pea seeds. The cost will come in lakhs – all for nothing without water.

_D9A2123.jpg

Photo courtesy: Tanvi Dutta

About the Author

Tanzin Dawa.jpeg

Tanzin Dawa

Tanzin dawa is from Chicham village and she initiated the conversation about water scarcity in her village with other women revealing bleak reality in Spiti this year. 

Dikit Lamo.jpeg

Dikit Lamo

Dikit Lamo is from Chicham village and has been farming for over 20 years. Listen to the recorded interview in Spitian language. 

Padma Norzom

Padma Norzom is from Chicham village. Listen to the recorded interview in Spitian language. 

Padma Norzom.jpeg
bottom of page