It is a peak harvest season in Paro and Punakha. And the battle between farmers and wild animals continues to rage. Every year, villagers have been losing most of their yield to wild animals, especially to the wild boars.
Villagers of Ramthangka under Lamgong Gewog in Paro said most of their crops are lost to the wild animals every year. Namgay Dorji, 72, said they spend all their time growing crops only to see them destroyed at a once by wild boars. “It has been a while since this problem started. The animals eat potatoes, maize and even apples. We work very hard, and when it is harvest time, animals eat everything.”
He added that the villagers are spending sleepless nights guarding their crops. “We are using various tactics to keep away the animals but to no avail.” For now, Namgay has arranged an electric light bulb to frighten the wild boars.
Meanwhile, a 43-year-old Sonam Choden said wild boars not only eat crops but causes bigger damages by trampling on the crops while moving around.
Meanwhile, the Dzongkhag Agricultural Officer, Rinzin Wangchuk said similar problems had been reported from other Gewogs as well. He, however, said that there had been no major damages reported as of now.
The Agriculture Officer said electrical alarm fencing would soon be in place to help keep the animals away.
For now, the farmers will have to guard their fields themselves until they receive the alarm fencing.
Situation no different in Punakha
The farmers in Punakha are also facing similar problem. Wild boars, on Tuesday, destroyed acres of paddy fields in Lemgekha Chiwog under Toep Gewog.
The village Tshogpa Thinley said he invested a huge amount of money and resources to cultivate paddy. “We face lots of problem during paddy plantation, investing huge labour. It is hard to get enough manpower to work here. We hire women workers from Punakha and pay about Nu. 300 per person.
“Such things discourage us to work hard. I am thinking to keep my land fallow next year,” said the frustrated Tshogpa Thinley.
Thinley added that he could not guard all his fields as they were scattered around in different locations. Others farmers at Lemgekha village are also facing similar problems.
Farmers in Gamakha Chiwog under Barp Gewog also lost almost an acre of paddy cultivation to wild boars. Lemjekha Chiwog has about 18 households. It is an half hour drive away from Thinleygang town.
Meanwhile, another three acres of maize fields were also destroyed in Gamaluma and Sebjikha villages under Barp Gewog in Punakha. Few decimals of maize cultivation were also lost to wild boars at Lemjekha village under Toep Gewog.
The Agriculture Extension Officer visited the sites for damage assessment and submitted the report to Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer.
