The solar electric fence in Mancheri village of Orong Gewog of Samdrup Jongkhar has remained defunct for more than a year now. As a result, they continue fighting a losing battle against wild animals in protecting their crops.
The four-kilometre solar electric fence was installed in June 2018 with support from the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector. The locals contributed the labour. However, today the solar fence remains covered in bushes.
According to the villagers, the fencing did not serve its purpose as expected even once. There have been many instances when the electric current failed to flow through as well.
“With solar fencing around the field, wild animals still continue to destroy our crops. So we thought it will not benefit us and left it unused,” Tshewang Rinzin, a farmer, said.
“Even after the flow of current, the solar fencing could not stop the wild boars from destroying the crops, so we thought it will not benefit us,” Sangay Dorji, another farmer, said.
“After working hard to install, it did not work out well. So villagers stopped carrying out maintenance works as well,” Yeshi Wangdi, also a farmer, said.
Meanwhile, the district’s agriculture sector is suspecting a faulty solar charge controller. However, since the villagers were not willing to clear the bushes and maintain the fencing, the problem was not looked into earlier.
Now, according to the office, the villagers have agreed and once the maintenance works are carried out, it will repair the fence.
Kinley Wangchuk
