Untimely rain causes loss to cucurbit farmers

KANPUR: Not only the Rabi crop suffered huge losses following recent rains and hailstorms in the region, even farmers cultivating cucurbits on the banks of Ganga are cursing the rise in water level following rains and release of water from Narora dam, dashing their hopes of a good harvest this year. People will have to shell out more this summer season to buy cucurbits due to less production this year.
The villagers in Natthapurwa, Chainpurwa, Gajjupurwa, Baniyapurwa, Khyora Katri, Shivpuri and Hriday Kalyanpur villages in the Katri region earn their livelihood by cultivating cucumbers in the river bed. These landless families do not have any other source of livelihood, and their only annual income is through river bed cultivation of cucumber and other vegetables.
The summer proves to be a boon for farmers cultivating cucumber as in this period they find ample dry space on the banks of Ganga to cultivate the crop. But, they are upset as their cucurbit crop has been completely washed away following the recent rains and release of water from Narora dam. "Cucumber grows well on sand beds. Even with a minimum supply of water, the crop attains its growth. It is a short duration horticultural crop," said an horticulturist.
"Usually, the farmers plant the seeds by end of January and within two months, the crop is ready for harvesting," said Naushad Khan, a CSA scientist. Vivek Nishad, a farmer of Natthapurwa village, said that he was devastated following the recent rains and excess release of water in Ganga, inundating his cucurbit plantation. "My dream to marry my daughter in the next marriage season has ended. I can barely earn to survive," Vivek said.
Ainuddin, another farmer of Katri village, said that the rising Ganga has played havoc with his cucumber crop. "There is no hope left for us," he said. Both Vivek and Ainuddin say they are struggling hard to save the remaining crop, which is not yet inundated by water.
"My curcurbit crop in over three to four `bighas' has been destroyed after it was completely submerged in water," said Mahesh, a farmer from Hriday Kalyanpur village.Mahesh is not alone. Hundreds of other cucurbit farmers no more hope for a bumper crop."We have suffered a major loss due to release of water from Narora this time," he said further.
Mahendra Singh of Baniyapurwa said the rainfall and release of water increase water level in the river when the cucurbit crop is in a crucial phase of growth as it didn’t require so much of water. Besides, he said the farmers recently resorted to spraying pesticides to protect their crop from pest, but all that has been washed away.