-- Samir Umarye *Agriculturists complain of wild boars, monkeys and porcupines destroying their produce, despite having afence*
W ild animals and monkeys have been destroying crops in the internal parts of Bicholim with the villagers of Latambarcem, Nanoda and surrounding areas expressing great displeasure over the apathy of the government department in resolving the issue. It may be stated that the internal parts of Bicholim including Latambarcem, Nanoda, Sal and Kharpal still have vegetation and some forest area. In these areas there is always struggle between men and animal. There have been also some instances wherein wild animals including leopards have been killed after they were trapped by the villagers. The Forest Department and the Agricultural Department have not done much to avoid this men- animal conflict. Most of the agriculturalists in these areas have now started feeling that kulagar and other agricultural activities are not at all profitable and also feasible. The Kulagarkars from these areas are mostly affected by the wrath of monkeys and wild boars. “ Here in these areas we suffer losses due to the damaged done by animals including monkeys, wild boars and porcupines. The worst are the monkeys who come in groups of 25- 30 and destroy all the coconuts. We have about 150 coconut trees but since last few years, monkeys destroy everything,” said Laxman Vaze from Sonarbhat. “ We have now started feeling that there is no use doing kulagars in such circumstances. There was just once that the forest department personnel came here and did the survey but after that there was no sign of them,” Vaze claimed adding “ the agricultural department claims to give subsidy for power fencing but we want to ask them what is the use of power fencing and how is it going to avoid the menace of monkeys.” There are several farmers who have the same problem. “ If there are wild boars on the ground there are monkeys on the trees. This just means that we can neither plant anything on the ground nor can we grow anything on the trees,” Ramesh Salgaonkar said. “ Now the situation is such that even when we have some 150 coconut trees we are forced to buy the coconuts and it’s all because of the monkey menace,” Ramesh claims adding “ the personnel from the agriculture department only do the formalities on paper. They come here, click the photos, fill the forms and they go. Later it is never available in the office. Either the file gets misplaced or they give some other reason.” The farmers feel that now the labour cost has samir umarye bicholim About 30% of the production from Kulagars is affected by monkeys and other animals in Bicholim.... we provide 90% subsidy for power fencing and there are several other schemes which the farmers should take advantage — Pradeep Malik, Bicholim ZEO If there are wild boars on the ground there are monkeys on the trees. This just means that we can neither plant anything on the ground nor can we grow anything on the trees — Ramesh Salgaonkar, a villager A grower displays coconut samplings uprooted by wild boars. also increased and the profession is only in loss. Bicholim ZEO Pradeep Malik also accepts that about 30% of the production from Kulagars is affected by monkeys and other animals in Bicholim. “ We provide 90% subsidy for power fencing and there are several other schemes which the farmers should take advantage,” Malik claimed.