Wild boars on rampage in Ganjam, farmers demanding compensation

Ganjam: Farmers of Rangeilunda area in Ganjam district staged a demonstration in front of Konisi Tehsil office Saturday demanding compensation for crop damage caused by wild boar. They are worried about their crops after a herd of wild boars repeatedly sneaked into human settlements from nearby forest and damaged standing crops on large tracts of farmland.

It is a major concern of farmers who cultivate paddy for the whole year. Their yearlong hard work is under siege and the wild boars are straying into the habitations lured by the ripened crop. Following this, several farmers have staged dharna in front of Konisi Tehsil office to press for their demands.

While the boar herd feed upon the standing crops, they damage most of it by crushing over and trampling the produce. The villages which border the vast forests of the neighboring state have of late been witnessing human-animal conflict. Over 35 farmers of these villages have suffered heavy crop losses as wild boars plundered through their paddy fields.

The farmers want the officials to conduct assessment on the damage and to compensate them. Resentment among the farmers has started brewing over the apathetic attitude of the forest officials.

Under this scenario, denizens of the villages under this forest range are spending sleepless nights to guard their farmlands from the wild boars that are sneaking into the croplands from nearby jungles and wreaking havoc.

PNN