Gadwal Chili Farmers Turn to Sewage Water as Drought Threatens Crops

Chilli farmers in Thupathurala village, under Aija municipality in Gadwal district, are struggling to protect their crops as water scarcity intensifies. With little or no rainfall and groundwater levels declining, borewells have stopped supplying sufficient water. Local tanks and streams have also dried up, leaving farmers with limited options to irrigate their fields. In an attempt to prevent their crops from drying out, the farmers have turned to sewage water flowing through Aija Pedda Vagu and are transporting it to their fields in tankers.

Around 20 farmers have reportedly joined together to hire tankers, paying approximately ₹50,000 per tanker each month. Balu, a farmer from Thupathurala, said he had cultivated chilli on five acres and had already invested around ₹60,000 per acre. With the crop at risk due to the lack of irrigation, he explained that spending more on water transportation was preferable to losing the investment already made. However, using untreated sewage water for irrigation can pose risks to crops, soil and food safety, depending on its composition. The situation highlights the urgent need for reliable irrigation supplies and support for farmers facing prolonged water shortages.