Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
Figure 6: Inter-annual variability of rainfall trends in Longyang District, Baoshan
Annual rainfall change trend of Longyang (1965-2005)
1500
1400
annual rainfall
1300
5-year moving average
1200
1100
1000
900
Annual rainfall (mm)
800
700
600
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Daojie – floods and droughts at low elevation Increased winter vegetable production has worsened
water resources by increasing demand. Overuse of
In Daojie, several serious floods and droughts were
chemical pesticides and fertilisers is common so water
recorded in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Floods
pollution also limits access to safe water.
destroyed some farming land in the past. Market forces
have caused cropping patterns in paddy fields to
During the rainy season, floods have often washed
change from rice and cotton to sugarcane and off-
away farmlands near the riverbank. However, especially
season vegetables. This shift requires more water for
from January to April, almost all farmers experience
irrigation particularly during the dry season.
water shortages due to reduced rainfall and increased
competing demands for water resources from upstream
Since most arable land is rain-fed, variability in
villagers. Their drinking water is also poor quality due to
precipitation and shifts in the monsoon pattern have
the high alkali concentration in water sources – caused
triggered severe water shortages. Farmers reported
by limited quantities and poor quality of construction and
decreasing water supplies in both irrigated and rainfed
maintenance of irrigation canals.
fields. They estimated that since the 1980s there has
been a 30% decline in water flows in irrigation channels
during the spring season, though the reasons for this are Taokong – competing demand for limited water at
not clear. mid-elevations
In Taokong, villagers do not get enough water due to
Although Daojie is located on the Salween river, the river
insufficient precipitation. Even though they have an
water is not accessible for either agriculture or drinking
irrigation system, the reservoir now has reduced water
due to the steep, deep gorge. Thus, water brought from
storage capacity because of sediment build up since its
a distance in irrigation channels is crucial for the Daojie
construction during the 1950s collective period.
villagers’ domestic use and agricultural production.
54
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