CANACONA: Greatly distressed by wild animals destroying their crops, farmers from Cotigao have demanded that the government provide them with some relief.
Wild animals like wild boars, deers and even the national bird peacock are proving to be a big headache to farmers as their hard labour is reduced to nothing by these animals feasting on their fields.
Nestled next to the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, various wrong practices are resulting in the wild animals straying into their cultivated land and even settlement areas much to the villagers’ chagrin.
Their thriving crops lie destroyed as wild boars rush through the fields breaking the stalks while deer and peacock feast on the crop.
Farmers have sought relief from both the Agriculture Department as well as the Forest Department so that their families do not have to undergo malnourishment due to the destruction of their crop.
Local farmer Chandrakant Dessai accused the Forest Department of not caring for the wild animals in the sanctuary properly due to which they are straying into the cultivated lands. “The chain wire fencing and compound walls set up by the Forest Department have hindered the free movement of the wild animals within the sanctuary, due to which they are now coming to where humans live,” he said.
Another farmer Laxman Gaonkar opined the clearing of forest land on the periphery of the village is the cause for animals to stray into their cultivation. Ramdas Velip further pointed out that these areas were earlier used as grazing land for their animals and thus provided a natural barrier from the wild animals, which has not been removed.
Given the fact that most of these animals are protected species, the farmers are demanding that the government come out with some mechanism to at least assess the damage caused to their crop and accordingly compensate them.
“The losses incurred each season are proving unbearable, leading to a decline in agricultural participation and threatening the region’s traditional way of life,” said Devu Gaonkar, another farmer from Cotigao.
“The Agriculture Minister, Forest Minister and above all the Chief Minister should take up this matter seriously,” said Rajesh Velip, a prominent villager.
He argued that only by giving relief to the farmers will the government be able to keep alive the age-old agricultural practices of the region.
Sarpanch Anandu Desai demanded that the Forest Department immediately come up with a scheme to compensate the farmers.Given the fact that this agrarian village lies adjacent to a wildlife sanctuary, a harmonious balance between wildlife conservation and livelihood of the locals is of paramount importance.
