Wild boars giving sleepless nights to farmers in Ganjam dist

Wild boars are giving sleepless nights to farmers in parts of Ganjam district by destroying standing crops.

Invasion of wild boars has become a common problem for farmers in several areas of Rangeilunda and Chikiti blocks, said former zilla parishad member N Damburu Reddy.

"We had raised the issue in zilla parishad meetings several times, but the problem persists. Not only do the animals destroy several acres of paddy crop, they also trample upon kewrda flower plants in Markandi, Ekasingi, Indrakhi, Kutharsingh areas," he said.

The Kalinga Krushak Samaj, an organisation fighting for a solution to the problem, has also urged the government to look into the problem.

"The wild boars roam freely in herds. Hundreds of farmers in Digipur, Boxipalli, Narayanpur, Alipur, Bikrampur, Biswanathpur, Kamalapur, Golabandh, hatipada, Kirtipur and Laudiga on villages in Rangeilunda block have suffered huge losses," said Binod Thakur, a paddy farmer.

As killing of wild animals, including boars,is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, farmers do not see a way out of the problem.

Divisional Forest Officer, Berhampur, A K Behera, admitted the menace of wild boars in some areas and said this was primarily due to an increase in their population.

"Farmers who have suffered will be compensated," said Behera.

In 2015-16, 455 farmers in Gopalpur area had received Rs 9.43 lakh in compensation for destruction of their crops by wild animals, particularly wild boars, said an official.