“Struggling Against the Elements: The Story of a Farmer in Flood-Prone India”
MORIGAON, India (AP) — Yaad Ali, a 56-year-old farmer from northeastern India’s Assam state, is bracing himself for the upcoming rainy season with a sense of dread. Living with his wife and son on Sandahkhaiti island on India’s Brahmaputra River, Ali is no stranger to the increasing ferocity and unpredictability of flooding that plagues his region due to human-caused climate change.
The island where Ali resides, like two thousand others on the Brahmaputra River, faces severe flooding as rainfall becomes heavier and more erratic in the area. The impact of climate change is evident as families like Ali’s are forced to constantly adapt to the changing landscape.
Ali and his family cultivate red chile peppers, corn, and other vegetables on their small farm on the island during the dry season. However, when the rains come, they are left with no choice but to move away as their home gets submerged in floodwaters. The family has to endure living in knee-deep water inside their small hut, sometimes for days, until the water forces them to flee to higher ground or relief camps.
Despite promises from politicians in the region to provide relief, little has changed for Ali and his family. They continue to face displacement for large parts of the year, struggling to find a permanent solution to their troubles. While some river islanders have been offered land rights in the state, the majority are left without a secure place to call home.
Farming is the livelihood for Ali and many others in the Morigaon district of Assam, where river islands known as Chars are located. An estimated 240,000 people in the district depend on fishing and selling produce from their small farms to make a living.
India, and Assam state in particular, is considered one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change due to intense rain and floods. The Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based climate think tank, highlighted the region’s susceptibility to climate impacts in a 2021 report.
Despite the challenges they face, families like Ali’s are unable to afford permanent relocation and have resigned themselves to the cycle of moving back and forth between their home and relief camps. Ali expressed frustration at the lack of attention to their plight, with political promises often forgotten once elections are over.
As Ali and his family prepare for another rainy season, their story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of climate change in vulnerable communities. The need for long-term solutions and support for those affected by environmental challenges remains a pressing issue that requires urgent attention.