The drought in Assam has cast a shadow of despair over the lives of farmers during the critical month of July, a time typically marked by bustling agricultural activity. As the season for planting sali rice and preparing fields with plows and ridges arrives, a severe drought-like situation across the state has left farmers in distress. From Nalbari, Tamulpur, and Bajali in Lower Assam to Dhemaji and Majuli, fields are drying up, with visible cracks forming in the parched soil. Farmers are unable to sow seedlings or plow the land, raising a pressing question: Who is responsible for this crisis?
The Crisis of Drought in Assam
The drought in Assam has severely disrupted the state’s agriculture-dependent economy, which relies on 54.11% of its geographical area for agricultural land and supports over 70% of its population. The lack of water has halted sowing activities, leaving farmers disoriented and fields barren. Is this crisis solely a natural calamity, or does it stem from inadequate planning and governance failures? Traditionally, Assam’s farmers have depended on rainfall, resorting to rituals like frog marriage to appease Varuna, the rain god, when rains fail. However, the persistence of such practices in the modern era underscores the state’s lag in agricultural infrastructure.
The Government’s Role and Irrigation Shortfalls
The BJP government, in power since 2016, has promised to make Assam one of India’s top five states, heralding a “Ganga of development.” Yet, after nine years, 100% irrigation coverage for agricultural land remains unachieved, with even 70-80% coverage a distant goal. In the March 2025 Assam Legislative Assembly budget session, Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi questioned when the tradition of frog marriage would end and when full irrigation would be realized. Irrigation Minister Ashok Singhal’s vague response offered no clarity or hope. Between 2015-16 and 2023-24, Assam lost 44,980 hectares of agricultural land to population growth, floods, erosion, urbanization, and developmental projects, with inadequate irrigation exacerbating the crisis.
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Agricultural Policy Failures
Systemic issues beyond natural causes compound the drought’s impact. Many farmers lack awareness of modern agricultural practices, proper fertilizer use, and access to adequate market facilities. Government schemes, like bank loans, often fall into the hands of middlemen, leaving farmers deprived. Programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana remain under-promoted. Despite Assam’s average annual rainfall of 2,818 mm, insufficient rainwater harvesting measures and uneven rainfall distribution hinder drought mitigation efforts.
Development Claims Amid Farmers’ Struggles
The government’s claims of development ring hollow when farmers face such dire circumstances. Schemes like Arunodoi, offering ₹1,250 monthly or five kilograms of rice per month, fail to address the root causes of agricultural distress. Are these initiatives turning agriculture-dependent Assam into a beneficiary-dependent state, allowing the government to sidestep its responsibilities? Or is there a larger plan to transfer drought-abandoned farmland to capitalists? Divisive politics—evictions, religious polarization—further distract from addressing farmers’ plight, while cracked fields reflect governance failures.
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The drought in Assam cannot be resolved by relying on rituals like frog marriage. Comprehensive irrigation systems, modern farming training, better market access, and land preservation are critical. If the government is serious about elevating Assam to a top state, it must prioritize agricultural development. Otherwise, traditions like frog marriage will persist, and farmers’ struggles will continue unabated.