A chain-link fencing project nearing completion in Bartsha-Namgyalgang Chiwog of Dagana’s Kana Gewog, promises to significantly reduce human-wildlife conflicts for local farmers. The project, spanning over six-kilometres, is set to benefit 55 farmers by protecting over 300 acres of paddy fields.
Currently, almost all the work has been completed, with the chiwog awaiting a welding machine for final touches.
The Dagana District Administration is executing the project, with technical support from the district’s engineering sector, and villagers contributing labour for the installation.
Farmers in the area are optimistic about the positive impact of the fencing on their crop yields.
Yeshi Dem, a farmer of Bartsha-Namgyalgang Chiwog of Kana Gewog said, “Once wild animals destroy crops like paddy and maize, it affects crop production. We lose crops to wild animals even while guarding them. We are expecting a more restful life once the chain-link fencing is operational. We are thankful to the government.”
Tshering Wangchuk, another farmer of the chiwog said, “We will have sufficient rice from this year. The chain-link fencing will bring much convenience for us. We no longer have to patrol the fields at night to chase away wild animals, as we did until last year. We are now encouraged to increase crop production.”
“Almost all nine kinds of cereals grow well in the chiwog. However, we are struggling to reap bountiful yields as wild animals continue to destroy our crops. Over the years, paddy cultivation has decreased by 50 percent,” said Sangay, who is also a farmer in the chiwog.
The village tshogpa also noted the importance of the fencing.
“Most wetlands in the chiwog are located on the outskirts of the village, making them easy targets for wild animals every year. However, once the chain-link fencing is operational, we expect to increase paddy production by reviving the fallow lands within the fence. This will help us become a rice self-sufficient community,” said Suresh Rai, the chiwog tshogpa.
Farmers in the chiwog typically begin paddy transplantation from mid-June and start harvesting towards the end of October.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Sherub Dorji
