People of Baylamsharang village in Samdrup Jongkhar continue to spend sleepless nights, guarding crops against wild animals. Without an electric or solar fence, farmers said they are struggling to keep the wild animals away.
It’s 11 PM and farmers of Baylamsharang are still in their paddy fields in a bid to guard the crops against wild animals. They say they stay here till 6 in the morning.
As the night goes on, some farmers make loud noises, while some go around the fields with torches to keep away the animals. The farmers have been doing this for the last five months.
Today, the harvest season is almost near and the people have their guards up to do all they can to keep the animals away.
“Last time, the wild boars came and damaged our crops like this. If we don’t guard our crops, wild boar will damage everything,” said Kelzang Wangmo.
“If we don’t guard the crops, we will be left with nothing. We have worked hard and now, with the harvest season near, we have to guard the crops,” said Chandra Bdr. Gurung.
While it is the wild boars in the nighttime, the farmers have to be wary of monkeys in the day.
“It’s not just the crops, the monkeys even come inside our houses. A person has to spend the whole day chasing the monkeys,” said Yeshi Lhamo.
“If we don’t guard our crops, wild boars come for the crops at night and during the day time, the monkeys trouble us,” said Cheki Wangmo.
Farmers in the village are hoping the authorities will provide them with solar or electric fences to ward off the animals.
But the gewog office says they do not have any plans to install electric or solar fences since they did not receive any proposal from the villagers.
Baylamsharang village in Phuentshogthang Gewog has around 20 households.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Tshering Zam
