Date | Dec 14, 2017:
Land mining near Bhamod Gram Panchayat has led farmers to abandon their cultivation due to a shortage of water. This was revealed in a recent study conducted by 30 research scholars during a short course organised by Institute of Development Studies.
According to the research, the land mining has led to depletion of the groundwater level and the water shortage in the village.
As a result, small farmers have abandoned their cultivation as there was no money to bring water through the pipeline from faraway places. Hence, a major chunk of the cultivable and fertile land in the village is left uncultivated for a long time.
Farmers reportedly remain idle throughout the year as there is no other alternative employment opportunities in the village.
In the field survey, 74 per cent farmers reported that farming is not profitable for them as a source of livelihood. The next best alternative is to depend on cattle rearing as 43 per cent of farmers reported. However, cattle rearing is also not considered as a feasible solution as the optimum price is not levied in the market.
In addition to this, the saline water has left the farmers with many diseases such as joint pain and kidney diseases. The villages do not have government dispensaries and veterinary hospitals.
(Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/)