To help farmers compensate for the livestock loss from wildlife attacks, the Bumthang Forest Division office handed over five power tillers to Nubi Gewog in Trongsa yesterday. People have been losing their cattle to tiger predation for about three years now. Going by the forestry office’s records, about 300 cattle, mostly oxen were either attacked, killed or injured by tigers since 2018. And this has greatly impacted farmers as they use oxen to plough fields.
“We are providing power tillers in place of oxen as many were killed by tigers. And regarding the management and utilization of the machines, the Chiwog or Gewog will have to manage the fuels, maintenance and driver’s salary,” said Pankay Drukpa, the Chief Forest Officer of Bumthang district.
The official added cattle predation cases are high in Nubi Gewog compared to other gewogs and districts.
“In the future, similar supports will be initiated in other places depending upon the plan and budget support we receive. We prioritized Nubi Geowg for its high predation cases,” added Pankay Drukpa.
Meanwhile, farmers said the power tillers will not only help revive their fallow lands but also acquiant them with mechanized farming.
“If it is compensation, only a single affected household will benefit. But when power tillers are provided, the whole gewog will be benefited. For instance, losing oxen to a tiger during the paddy transplantation causes a major problem,” said Namgay Lhendup, Sinphu Chiwog Tshogpa.
The Bhutan Tiger Center in Sarpang, Gelegphu funded the power tillers.
Passang, Trongsa
