Farmers in Golaghat Face Drought Amid Floods in Assam

Farmers in Golaghat district of Assam are facing a severe drought crisis, jeopardizing their paddy cultivation season. While other parts of the state are dealing with floods, the Sarupathar subdivision is experiencing inadequate rainfall and malfunctioning irrigation systems. Local farmers report being unable to start their cultivation due to water shortages. A delegation from the All Doiyang Farmers' Association has raised concerns about defunct irrigation projects that were supposed to support agriculture. They are urging the government to restore these systems and expedite pending projects to prevent further hardship. The situation remains critical as farmers await rain to resume their farming activities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 28, 2026, 12:27 IST

Drought Conditions Threaten Paddy Cultivation

Several multi-crore irrigation lift schemes in the region have become defunct.

Golaghat, June 28: While many areas in Assam are grappling with the initial wave of seasonal floods, farmers in Golaghat district are confronting a different challenge, as drought-like conditions jeopardize the current paddy planting season.

The situation is particularly dire in the Sarupathar subdivision, especially in the Sarupani region of Merapani, where insufficient rainfall and malfunctioning irrigation systems have left extensive farmland parched.

Local farmers report that they have been unable to initiate paddy cultivation due to the severe water shortage.

One farmer expressed frustration, stating, "We cannot cultivate our fields. Officials from relevant departments come to assess the situation but leave without providing any solutions. We are now just waiting for rain to resume farming."

In light of these challenges, a group from the All Doiyang Farmers' Association visited the affected areas, claiming that numerous costly irrigation lift projects in the region have fallen into disrepair, depriving farmers of essential irrigation support during the critical sowing period.

The delegation examined irrigation lift projects along the Doiyang River at Bendik Pathar, Nareshpur, and Sonali Pathar, which are part of the Sarupani Gaon Panchayat in Merapani. These initiatives are overseen by the Golaghat-Sarupathar Division of the Irrigation Department.

Debajit Bora, president of the All Doiyang Farmers' Association, noted that the start of the cultivation season has not alleviated the plight of farmers, who are still unable to plant paddy seedlings.

He stated, "Even with the cultivation season underway, farmers in this area have not been able to sow paddy seedlings due to drought-like conditions. Ironically, many irrigation projects funded with crores of rupees are currently non-functional."

Bora attributed the issues to inconsistent power supply, faulty equipment, and alleged negligence by the Irrigation Department, which has rendered many lift irrigation schemes unusable.

He also pointed out that several irrigation projects approved after 2016 remain unfinished, leaving numerous villages without adequate water for farming activities.

The farmers' association has called on the Irrigation Department and the Assam government to promptly restore the non-operational irrigation schemes and hasten the completion of outstanding projects to alleviate the difficulties faced by farmers.

As of the time of this report, the department had not released any comments regarding the situation.