Tamluk farmers turn waterlogged paddy fields over to water chestnut

With depressions and heavy rain leaving water standing in their fields and rice plants rotting, farmers in Tamluk block of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, are turning a profit by growing water chestnut instead of paddy. Land that once grew aman and other rice can no longer be cropped with rice because of the rain. Sohely Biswas reported the story for the Kolkata daily Ei Samay.

Farmers say long waterlogging is killing rice plants and bringing weeds and other problems. Janmajay Das of Purbanukha village now grows water chestnut on three kathas of his own land. By his account it yields four to five quintals, fruit can be picked every 10 to 12 days, and it sells for Rs 40 to 50 a kilo at market.

Surya Das, who has grown water chestnut for several years, said each katha yields about one to one and a half quintals. Costs are somewhat higher, but profits beat paddy; the crop takes about six months.

Several farmers in Kismat, Mirikpur and Kalikapur in Tamluk block have also switched from rice to water chestnut. They say they will watch production costs and price swings before expanding further.

Photo: Steve Hurst, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Source: Ei Samay