29 April, 2008 - Wheat and barley cultivation in Kaba village, Trongsa, has taken a pelting in recent weeks, with hailstorms destroying several acres of the area’s two important spring crops.
According to villagers, a 6.2 acre area of wheat and barley cultivation was flattened by hailstones to such an extent that it can hardly be harvested at all.
“It’s essential for barley to be in a standing position for it to be harvested,” said 52-year-old Ugyen from Kaba village, whose one-acre barley cultivation was affected. “I’ll be able to harvest only about one-third of the yield.
Ugyen estimates his barley produce to be about 90 dreys (one drey is about 1.8 kg) less than last year’s yield.
Kaba tshogpa (village representative), Penjor Tshering, also estimated his barley yield would drop by two-thirds.
Wheat and barley crops in the neighbouring villages of Daba, Simphu and Bemji villages were also affected by hailstones but not to the extent in Kaba.
The dzongkhag agriculture officer, Nawang Chogyal, said that the gewog agriculture extension officer had assessed the extent of damage. “However, it’s too early to give the exact figure of the yield loss and crops like barley and wheat could recover from their flattened positions,” he said. “But we’ll submit a report to the department and look into the possibility of compensation.”
The villagers consume barley and wheat as a staple diet in late spring and summer, when the previous year’s rice harvest nears exhaustion. Some of the wheat and barley is also brewed into alcohol.
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