Bend it like Najafgarh farmers (The Times of India 18 June 2012)

NEW DELHI: Residents in many colonies may be struggling for their daily share of water, but so severe is the crisis in the agricultural belt of the capital — Najafgarh — that farmers have been forced to sell their lands and change crop patterns. Officials at the sub-registrar's office in Najafgarh say that almost 300 acres of agricultural land has been sold in the past one year due to the acute water shortage. The area comprises 60 villages, of which 49 are rural villages.
When Jaswant Singh Dagar (61), a farmer, recollects his childhood, he can visualize vast expanses of green fields sprawled over acres. He remembers running through wheat fields, helping his father plough the fields and watching the wheat turn from fresh green to golden. The shimmery golden crop is gone and so are the farmers. "All I see is arid land and women picking up dried twigs from the field to fire their stoves. If the rain gods had a little pity on us, we would have been blessed with mustard flowers," says a distressed Dagar. He sold 70 per cent of his six-acre land three months ago.
Not just Dagar, there are scores of others who have been compelled to part with their land because of the perpetual water crisis. Earlier, these farmers could grow wheat and other vegetables throughout the year but because of the erratic rainfall, the once fertile land now bears a parched look. "We would sow our crops at least twice a year but after the central government banned boring and extraction of groundwater in 2009, we were left to the mercy of Delhi Jal Board. Insufficient supply has forced us to rely on rainwater. Two years ago, all our crops were almost ready but due to inadequate rain they were wasted," said Sanjay Jatav, a farmer from Malikpur Village.
Water scarcity has also affected the agricultural pattern in Najafgarh forcing farmers to switch to mustard as it needs very less water for harvesting. "Since grains consume a lot of water, we have chosen mustard over wheat. The mustard crop needs to be watered only once whereas wheat needs six rounds of watering. Growing mustard is economical too because it is sold at a higher rate than flour," said Kishan Chand (62) from Khera Village.
However, those with tube wells in their fields are cashing in on the crisis by selling water to other farmers. "For one-time watering of crops in one acre of land, we are charged between Rs 7000 and Rs 10,000. We want to grow other crops but the cost of irrigation has escalated so much that it is beyond our reach," said Zila Singh (53), who owns eight acres of agricultural land in Dhansa Village.
Farmers also complain that after the construction of a major drain in Najafgarh — passing through Dhansa Village and ending in the Yamuna — the local lake, that served as a reservoir, has dried up.