Waiting for rain

Guljar Singh too goes to sleep with a prayer for the monsoon showers for his paddy crop. But as he wakes up in the morning to milk his buffaloes and cows,he sees nothing in the sky that gives any indication of rain.

At 6 a.m.,after the milking,he heads straight to his fields to have a look at the paddy crop he had sown about a month ago. “The scanty monsoon is taking a toll on the paddy crop. The power supply is also not adequate,” he says.

“The Punjab government had promised an eight-hour uninterrupted power supply for the motors that use groundwater to irrigate the fields. But the power supply is being given for six hours,from 6 p.m. to 12 at night. And there are power cuts during that time too. It is not possible to irrigate all the fields. My crop has suffered because of the poor rains this year. Last year this time,we had a good monsoon. The crop had grown well. If it does not rain in the next few days,the farmers would have to spend a lot of money on diesel to run motors to get groundwater for irrigation,” Guljar says.

After taking a look at the fields,a dejected Guljar moves to a nearby field where he has grown green fodder for the cattle. “The scanty rains have also affected the growth of fodder,” he says,as he squats to cut the fodder with his sickle. In about half an hour,Guljar has cut the fodder. He bundles it,puts it on the cart and heads home to feed the cattle. He will mix dry fodder with the green one. By the time he is home,it is noon. He feeds the cattle. It’s scorching hot now. Guljar eats his lunch and it is time for some rest. “There is no choice but to wait for the rain. Since tubewells run only in the evening when there is dedicated power supply,I spend the time from afternoon to evening at home,” he says,before retiring to rest in his house adjoining the fields.

At 4 p.m.,it is time to go back to the fields. He again cuts the fodder and comes home to feed the cattle. By 6 p.m.,he visits the fields again. This time with a kahi (a kind of hoe). He digs with it and moves soil,making a channel for water so that it flows to the driest parts.

“The tubewells will start in the evening. I have to divert water to the fields since they require urgent irrigation. But without proper rains,no matter how much water I supply to the fields,it will never be enough,” he says.

It is already sunset and there is still no sign of rain. Guljar Singh heads back home from the fields,again with a prayer on his lips for the showers.