In a move towards sustainability, Aringgang village of Dorokha in Samtse has replaced traditional wooden poles with High-Density Polythene (HDPE) poles for electric fencing. Villagers have reported that the polythene poles are more durable than the wooden poles and have made electric fencing more efficient.
Without electric fencing, life was difficult for the residents of Aringgang village. Every year, farmers lose almost half of their crops to wildlife.
Mek Nath Phuyel, a resident said, “We would lose almost half of our crops to monkeys, wild boars, and deer. And we had to spend sleepless nights, tirelessly guarding our fields from the animals during the harvesting season.”
However, after the residents installed electric fencing, the village has been able to safeguard their paddy from wildlife which is cultivated in an area of eleven acres.
The residents now have an abundant yield of rice. Today, the farmers are awaiting the new cultivation season after a successful harvest last year.
Moreover, the substitution of wooden poles with HDPE poles has enhanced the effectiveness of electric fencing.
Mek Nath Phuyel said, “To install wooden poles along a 1.5-kilometre stretch, we would need to cut down numerous trees, and the wooden poles had to be replaced annually. In contrast, using HDPE pipes in 2019 has proven more sustainable, with no issues of damage reported to date.”
“Wooden poles barely lasted a year and required frequent replacements. However, the plastic ones are not only stronger but also have a longer lifespan. Thanks to the electric fencing, we can now reap the rewards of our hard work,” said Khem Nath Phuyel, a resident.
The eco-friendly project worth around Nu 200,000 was initiated by the Dorokha Dungkhag Agriculture Sector with financial support from the Dorokha Gewog Administration.
With the HDPE poles project in Aringgang proving successful, the agriculture sector now aims to replace wooden poles with polythene poles in more villages.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sangay Chezom
