Choked and chilled!

Unseasonal Weather is being unreasonable for farming in Sikkim

SUBASH RAI

The weather has remained unseasonably wet and cold this year. The comforting warmth of Spring has given Sikkim the skip thus far, and while the ferocious daily downpours, the hailstorms and the persistent chill might be inconveniencing the urban dwellers, the loss is much more significant and material for rural Sikkim where agriculture has taken a severe hit. Farmers have already lost the winter crop to hail and the chances of recovering the season have been sabotaged by the continuing rains and cold which have waterlogged the fields and chilled the earth. The approaching paddy season, if projections of the Met Office are to be believed, also appears uncertain since the monsoon has been predicted to be below average this year.  

Wildlife quick, compensation slow

NOM PANAM FARMERS COMPLAIN OF WILDLIFE DESTROYING STANDING CROP EVEN AS DEPARTMENT DRAGS FEET ON CLEARING COMPENSATION
MANGAN, 02 July: The people of Nom-Panam ward of Passingdang GPU, Dzongu have been distressed by wild animals like bears and monkeys entering their fields and destroying their crops.
Speaking to media persons today, the public complained that their crops have been destroyed by these animals and they have informed the Forest Department but no action has been initiated yet.
They further rued that farmers’ whose crops have been destroyed had submitted applications seeking compensation for their damages last year as well but are still to receive the compensation.
Stating that farmers in the area have been suffering heavy losses since last year which has affected their livelihood, the public have urged the government to take the necessary action at the earliest.

East DAC collating data on crop damage due to latest round of hailstorms

GANGTOK, 09 April: Heavy rains and hail that the State has been receiving for the past week or so have wreaked havoc on the livelihood of farmers in rural Sikkim. With a number of reports of crop damage coming in from all quarters with each passing day, the concerned offices are now in the process of collating all the reports of damages caused by hail and are expected to have an accurate figure in the next few days.
Speaking to NOW!, DC [East], D Anandan, confirmed that reports of crop damage due to hail have been coming in from various areas in and around Gangtok and across the East district at a steady pace and that his office has asked these complaints to be first registered with the Agriculture Department before a final assessment can be announced.
“Accordingly, the compensation packages will be announced after all the reports are registered with the Agriculture Department,” he stated.
Most of the reports are being routed through the respective panchayats who are in the process of collecting all the complaints and seeking supporting evidence in the form of photographs. Affected persons especially farmers have been flocking to the DC office the past few days with relevant documents to claim compensation.
Further, some claims for damages are also being recommended by the respective MLAs after which the same was being forwarded to the Agriculture Department and then the office of the District Collectorate. Only after the report of the Agriculture department has come in verifying the claims and extent of damages will the compensation amount be decided upon.

Crop production goes to waste around Kitam Bird Sanctuary with increased ravages of wild animals

FARMERS LOSE ENTIRE CROPS AND DEPARTMENT HAS INADEQUATE FUNDS TO COMPENSATE THEM
PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI,10 Nov: The people residing in the fringe areas of Kitam Bird Sanctuary in South Sikkim are frustrated with the trespasses of wild boar into their fields resulting in the destruction of their crops and vegetables; at the same time they are also frustrated at the disinterest of the concerned department in this particular issue.