As the harvest season begins, farmers in most Dzongkhags are watching their fields to protect their crops from wild animals at night. Farmers of Bemjee under Nubi Gewog in Trongsa are spending sleepless nights.
Wild boars are said to be a nuisance this time. Farmers are worried, as they say, the number of boars is increasing every year.
Phub Zam, 80, and Kunzang Wangmo, 76, are upset of losing their crops to the wild boars. “These wild boars encroach into the fields silently. We use torches to frighten away but it doesn’t work. In the morning, we find our crops damaged,” says Kunzang Wangmo.
To guard the crops, the farmers have built small huts in their fields, keeping a distance of over 100 metres between them, says our reporter, Surjaman Thapa. “At least two to three people guard the fields every night.”
According to the village Tshogpa, villagers lost most of their crops to wild animals every year. “As soon as the paddy is ready for harvest the wild boars attack. People don’t have time to sleep as they have to rush to their fields before dark. If not, the animals attack the crops in groups. Some times over 20 boars come at a time,” says Dawa Gyeltshen, the village Tshogpa
He adds even students help their parents guard the fields. For now, until the harvest season is over, the farmers have no other options but to continue guarding their fields.
