With the continuous torrential monsoon this year, farmers from various parts of Noklak has expressed grievances over the massive loss of their paddy fields due to natural disasters such as mudslides and flash floods. Not only paddy fields but jhum cultivators are devastated stating that all the vegetable plantations are destroyed by mud slide.
Farmers from Pangsha village reported that altogether 103 paddy fields were washed away in the mudslide. This could comprise of almost all the paddy fields of entire village, says Thango, Village Council Chairman of Old Pangsha village. Likewise, farmers from Noklak village, Kusong village, and Choklangan village shared similar concerns. 80 percent of the Khiamniungan tribals residing in their villages are cultivators to which agriculture is the main source of sustainance for their daily lives. While some population cultivates Jhum, those villages who mainly resides by the river banks or foothills practise terrace cultivation.
A senior citizen from Noklak Town lamented over the loss of paddy fields which was washed away by the heavy mudslide. “Every year, my son’s family depends on the harvest of rice cultivation but I don’t know what we will eat this year,” she shared.
A young man from Pangsha said that the villagers depends solely upon the rice cultivation yearly but many are devastated at the sight of their paddy fields all destroyed.
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“We just finished planting the rice. And after we left that evening, the rain fell heavily. When we went to see our field the next day, it was all gone,” another Pangsha farmer said with a heavy heart.
The farmers have remarked that though they have experienced certain damages over the passed years, this year has been extreme.
The economy of the villages in Noklak mostly depends on agriculture, with 80 percent of the village demographic being cultivators and farmers. It has been reported that most of the farmers majority from Pangsha, Noklak and Choklangan have their paddy fields washed away.
Where does their future lie? How can they revive their economy? Will the government take particular initiative to assist the grieving farmers?- These are questions troubling farmers in Noklak as they struggle for survival.
