Srinagar, July 3: Abdul Gani Bhat, a 56-year-old paddy farmer, stands at the edge of his field with a soiled cap in one hand and a hopeful glance cast at the sky. His eyes, dry and rimmed red, hope for a spell of rain to save his field, which is almost dried due to the lack of irrigation water.
Last month, Bhat transplanted paddy when the water was abundant enough that he had to drain out extra water for days together from the field.
“Who would expect that we would face such a situation. Last month, we transplanted paddy, the water supply was enough, and our fields were flooded. Right now, the situation is different, and we are craving for water to irrigate our fields and orchards,” he said.
A prolonged spell of dry and unusually hot weather in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered an irrigation crisis, leaving paddy and apple farmers across the Valley grappling with shrinking water sources and the looming threat of crop failure.
For over a month now, the region has seen little to no rainfall, with temperatures soaring above normal.
Last month, the summer capital recorded its hottest June since 1978. According to data compiled by independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif, the average maximum temperature for June 2025 stood at 31.0°C, while the mean minimum temperature was 18.2°C, resulting in an overall average of 24.6°C. This makes June 2025 the second warmest since official observations began in 1892.
The water crisis is particularly acute in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, where dozens of villages are facing acute shortages of irrigation water. Paddy fields lie cracked and parched, with farmers fearing irreversible damage if rain doesn’t arrive soon.
“We used to rely on snowmelt and timely rain, but now even our irrigation canals have dried up. Without water in July, there is no paddy in October,” said Abdul Gani, a farmer from Pattan.
Paddy cultivation, which is highly water-dependent during its early growth stages, has been hit hard. Farmers said the current conditions are the worst in recent memory.
The situation is equally grim in parts of south Kashmir—including Anantnag, Pulwama, and Shopian—where apple growers are also witnessing early signs of stress in their orchards due to the lack of moisture.
“This year, the crops are highly affected. We hope for rainfall so that our apple and paddy crop is saved,” said Mir Shabir, an apple grower from Shopian.
Director of Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, said the prolonged dry season could impact more if it doesn’t rain in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, sources said the department is assessing the situation across Kashmir and chalking out plans to protect the crop.