October 20: Water shortage is one of the major problems faced by the farmers of Ugyentse geog in Samtse, especially during the paddy cultivation. With no reliable water source, it has been a growing concern for years now.

Farmers in Ugyentse geog in Samtse are completely dependent on the monsoon rains during the paddy transplantation season. When monsoon season ends, they are again left high and dry. The farmers are now looking for other options.

Ap Tshering Tashi is a farmer from Tashiding village. He has a field measuring about one and half. In the past he grew only paddy on his field but now he has given up paddy cultivation altogether.

He said there is simply not enough water to irrigate his land. For the last three years, he has been cultivating grass in his paddy fields and raising jersey cows. Currently he has seven jersey cows.

He earns about Nu. 12,000 per month by selling dairy products. He said it is a profitable business. But Ap Kesang Dorji from Ngatshang village has been exploring other means to bring water in his three acre paddy field.

Until last year he has been cultivating paddy on the three acre field but the yield has bee falling. He said there is acute water shortage during the monsoon.

This year, he cultivated paddy only on one acre of his land and bought a 450 meters long water pipe to increase water supply to the field. Some villages in the geog are also facing drinking water shortages.

Ap Tshering Tashi said since the villages have to share the water source, they are facing drinking water shortage. He said sometimes, they receive water only once a week.

The Ugyentse gup Sonam Norbu agreed that there is water shortage in the geog.

Ugyentse geog has a total of 11 villages.