Declining rainfall turns paddy fields into fish farms
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2019 2019: On account of the declining annual rainfall in the State, a number of paddy fields where double cropping was done have been converted into fish farms.

The average rainfall rate was 1473.9 mm in a year but the rainfall rate has been declining since a few years back.

As a result, a number of paddy fields where paddy was cultivated twice a year are being converted to fish farms.

Compelled by the pervasive impact of climate change, large tracts of paddy fields located on the eastern side of Loktak Lake along Mayai Lambi are being converted into fish farms.

One Sarangthem Inaoba (44) of Yumnam Huidrom said that a number of paddy fields have been converted to fish farms as the seasonal rainfall was quite unpredictable and inadequate during the past five years or so.

Like many other farmers, Sarangthem Inaoba was seen making a fish farm out of his Mayang Imphal paddy field.

Even though paddy is still cultivated in paddy fields located close to Loktak Lake as water is available from the lake, large tracts of paddy fields located further off the lake at Paobitek, Yumnam Khunou, Chirai, Chabung Company, Konchak and Mayang Imphal are being converted into fish farms.

Declining rainfall turns paddy fields into fish farms

While fish ponds have been dug in a considerable number of paddy fields, there are many paddy fields which remain dry and uncultivated.

Fish ponds which are dug anew must wait for seasonal rainfall before they can be used for rearing fish.

One Sitara Begum (40) of Wangoi Paobitek said that paddy is no longer cultivated in a large number of paddy fields since the last 10 years.

Some farmers did cultivate paddy but the paddy plants were flooded and completely destroyed for three consecutive seasons.

Sitara said that large cracks have surfaced on her paddy field but there is no source of water to irrigate the dry paddy field.

She said that the nearby river and canals have all dried up.

Unique Wildlife Protection Committee, Sekmaijin member Budha Elangbam said that many farmers have been able to earn more after converting their paddy fields into fish farms.

Cultivation of paddy over one Sangam could earn Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 in a year but if one Sangam of paddy field is converted into a fish farm, a farmer can earn over Rs three lakh in a year, he said.

ICAR Imphal's Agrometrology Advisory Services Nodal Officer Dr Irengbam Meghachandra said that the impacts of global climate change have already reached the State.

The thunderstorms which swept across the State recently in which three people were killed was one phenomenon of the global climate change, he said.

Felling of trees has been adding more destructive power to cyclones and windstorms as they face little obstruction on their way in the absence of trees, Meghachandra.

Even though the average rainfall rate has been declining in the State, many parts of the State faced floods as there was excessive rainfall during certain months of the year.

In January this year, the State received 3.4 mm of rainfall against the expected or normal rate of 13.5 mm.

The corresponding figures for the months of February March and April are 20.3 mm against 40.9 mm, 36 mm against 75.9 mm and 70.1 mm against 123.4 mm.

As the rainfall rate is quite inadequate, paddy seeds on jhum fields are unable to germinate.

Likewise, many paddy fields in the first phase are not yet fit for first phase of paddy cultivation, he said.

Farmers need to understand the climatic changes before the situation grows worse and there is an urgent need to expedite afforestation activities, said the Nodal Officer.

To avoid drought or drought like situation, small dams must be constructed at different places across rivers flowing down from hills.

It would be more beneficial if fishes are reared in the water held up by these small dams, he added.

Directorate of Environment's Climate Change Nodal Officer T Brajakumar said that conversion of dry paddy fields into fish farms is a traditional practice aimed at adapting to climate change and the same was done by farmers in the past too.

Nonetheless, the departments concerned need to support the farmers' initiative to rear fish in place of cultivating paddy by providing technical inputs so that their initiative is more productive, Brajakumar said.

He also underscored the growing importance of harvesting rain water.

(This report is filed under the Directorate of Environment's Manipur State Level Media Fellowship on Climate Change) .