The long wait for an answer to the human-wildlife conflict in Korphu Gewog of Trongsa came in the form of eight-foot chain-link fencing that will enclose the entire fields in three chiwogs of the gewog once complete. The residents will no longer have to guard their crops against wild animals from next month.
“The fence is constructed with a 17-inch concrete base. And on the top, we are placing a metal pole, which will hold the chain-link to a height of eight feet so that it will be difficult for wild animals to enter,” said Yeshey Nidup, the Mangmi of Korphu Gewog in Trongsa.
The community contractors in the gewog are installing the fence. About Nu 300 M is used for the construction. The six-kilometre long fence will enclose 300 acres of land in three chiwogs of Korphu, Nabji and Nyimzhong. With the gewog located in the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, the farmers have been losing their harvest to wild animals such as porcupine, wild boar and deer.
“Though all cereals grow here, protecting them from wild animals at night is a major challenge. So we hope besides birds no other animals can harm our crops hereafter,” said Karma Lotay, a farmer in Korphu.
The initiative is giving hope to the farmers. Farmers are once again reviving their fallow lands.
“Together with the installation of chain-link fencing, land reclamation works has also begun. This is benefiting us immensely to prepare the land for farming. So we hope that the cultivation of the paddy will be a huge success hereafter,” said Thinley Wangchuk, a farmer from Nabji under Korphu Gewog.
“There are about 15 households here who left their land fallow for almost a decade now. But, they are all hoping to do farming again after the installation of the chain-link fencing,” added Dema Lhamo, also from Nabji.
The fencing is expected to last for almost three decades. It is expected to benefit nearly 140 households but only time will tell.
Passang, Trongsa
