July 12: The scanty rainfall has affected paddy transplantation in Umling geog in Gelephu. It is the paddy transplantation season in Gelephu and the farmers are busy transplanting paddy. But in Umling geog, rainfall stopped soon after farmers started transplantation work.

Our reporter Sonam Rinchen says water sources have dried up due to lack of rainfall. Some of the farmers had to leave their paddy fields fallow.

The Umling Gup said the Pasbari River is the only source of irrigation water and it is not adequate. Farmers take turn in using the irrigation water.

Of the eight villages under the geog, only three villages have proper irrigation facilities. The Gup said it would be of immense benefit if the government could construct irrigation canals for the other five villages.

If the rainfall arrived on time, the farmers would have completed paddy transplantation by now.

Farmers said they are now worried that their harvest will be poor. They said proper irrigation facilities would help when the rainfall is scanty.

They said with adequate water supply they can even carry out paddy transplantation twice a year.