Will Nagaland's drought-like situation elevate to paucity?

For the past month, Nagaland has been experiencing and facing inadequate rainfall even if the monsoon season is at bay. Cracks are beginning to appear due to the lack of adequate natural rainwater endangering the production of crops and other vegetables.

In many places of Nagaland, especially Dimapur district, which is also the hottest district of the state, has been experiencing not merely the harsh and hot climatic temperature, ponds and wells are beginning to dry up likewise. Even fisheries used for breeding fishes of various kinds are at the brink of extermination.

The water level is decreasing while the temperature of the water increases, making it challenging for the fishes to survive. People are beginning to panic since their wells are drying up and their water pumps are not producing any water. Some are even going to their neighbour's houses merely to fetch water to bathe or wash their clothes, increasing the risk of COVID-19 infection even more.

The state minister of agriculture and cooperation raised the alarm whilst addressing media persons about the grave situation at stake. It has also been estimated that a large swathe of maize crops measuring 3048.45 ha in 334 villages are damaged. Also, 68662 ha of Jhum fields in 915 villages were adversely affected.

The year 2021 is turning out to be an expressly challenging time for both the citizens and administrative officials of Nagaland since a lot of lives are at stake if the situation is not handled correctly and swiftly. The reason for the state facing a drought-like circumstance is because of climate change and delayed rainfall which is causing many crops to dry up.

People living in villages are at greater risk of being affected on a large scale since they depend on the yields and vegetables grown in their fields. However, with the crops drying up rapidly and with the absence of rainfall, things are turning out to be chaotic, and if it does, it will be a first of a kind for the state of Nagaland.

With the intensity of the rainfall getting thinner and thinner while the summer heat dries up every source of water at most people's homes, the probability of a drought-hit state is very much possible for a state like Nagaland, where most of the citizens in rural areas depend on agriculture for their survival. With the state government picking pace of the situation, the state officials are doing their best, trying to make sure that the Nagaland drought-like situation doesn't elevate to paucity.

A general reminder to the citizens of Nagaland is that one must imbibe proper knowledge on the values of water and use one's instinct to not only save water but also not waste or use it lavishly. It is only just a matter of time, and if Nagaland doesn't react with efficiency and effectiveness, the state will dry and crack with nothing to help mend it.