Climate Change, Indo-Pak Border, and Dying Basmati Fields of Jammu’s RS Pura

The crisis is not just about climate change but also about government inaction, the farmers allege, they as they struggle to make ends meet.

“The government talks about MSP but fails to implement it,” says Karnel Das, 68, voicing the frustration of many farmers in the region.

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RS Pura’s main crops are Basmati rice, wheat, and paddy, but rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events have thrown their cultivation cycles into disarray. Farmers say the past 2-4 years have been the worst, with many moving from small profits to mounting losses.

“If the rain comes off-season, our produce will be destroyed. If it doesn’t rain at the time of sowing, the crop won’t be planted on time. And if it’s not planted on time, it won’t grow properly.”

The numbers back their fears: Jammu and Kashmir saw a 29% rainfall deficit in 2024 alone, with January 2024 recording a shocking 91% shortfall, according to Faizan Arif Keng, an independent weather forecaster.

And with heatwaves becoming a regular occurrence, too, the crisis is deepening.

Once the lifeline of RS Pura’s farms, the Ranbir Canal was designed to bring water from the Chenab River to agricultural lands. Today, it is drying up, and farmers blame the government’s failure to maintain it.

Farmers allege that despite repeated complaints to the Irrigation Department, the issue remains unresolved. “We have visited block and district offices ample times, but nothing has been done. Zero,” adds Mandev Singh.

However, Hafizullah Reshi, Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Division, dismisses these claims, stating: “These people just keep making up stories. They are responsible for polluting the canal by throwing in personal waste.”

With rainfall failing and the canal system deteriorating, farmers have turned to pump sets for irrigation. But even that solution is proving unreliable.

“We have an option of pump sets, but the water level is too low because there is no rainfall. No rain means no water for pump sets. And without electricity, we can’t run them.”

The government has introduced a new subsidy scheme for solar-powered water pumps, offering an 80% subsidy. But farmers say the scheme is deeply flawed.

“The entire contract was given to a single contractor. They tell farmers that the total cost is Rs 4 lakh and demand ₹80,000 upfront. We believe the subsidy should be directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts so that we know exactly what we are getting.”

As if climate change and water shortages weren’t enough, farmers near the India-Pakistan border also deal with severe restrictions on their working hours. Security forces mandate a 4 PM curfew, preventing farmers from tending to their fields when they need to the most.

“At 4 PM, we must stop all activities because of fencing rules. Even if half of the field is left to be ploughed, we have no choice once they blow their whistles and indicate for us to leave the fields.”

The security measures stem from the fear of cross-border firing, but farmers argue that if there is fencing and a strong security presence, they should be allowed to work till dark.

“There should be a ceasefire on this border so that farmers can work peacefully,” says 68-year-old Kernal Das from Chuwala village in RS Pura. “We are not getting proper rates, manure, or even water. We are the food providers of this country, but who are we providing for when nobody listens to us?”

With climate change worsening, water resources drying up, and farming becoming economically unviable, the future of RS Pura’s farmers looks bleak.

The farmers of RS Pura don’t want empty promises—they want real solutions. Will the government listen before it’s too late?

NOTE – This article was originally published in thequint and can be viewed here