I have been toiling since last couple of years in the cultivation of banana plantations in my farm. However, since last two days, the tuskers have destroyed a large number of banana trees.”
Hanmant Sabale,
Farmer from Olamani
Elephant create havoc in Khanapur fields
Farmers have demanded compensation and a task force to drive away the herd
THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
While the harvest season is at its peak in the region, a hers of wild elephants has been causing havoc in western Khanapur taluka bordering Goa.
A herd of elephants, usually on the move through the forest corridor of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, arrived in this region and is freely grazing in the paddy and sugarcane plantations here, causing heavy crop losses.
According to farmers in Olamani, Kusmalli and Bailur villages in the Jamboti-Kankumbi belt, the tuskers have not only damaged the paddy crops spread in several acres, but have also damaged sweet potato, potato and other crops.
“I have been toiling since last couple of years in the cultivation of banana plantations in my farm. However, since last two days, the tuskers have destroyed a large number of banana trees,” Hanmant Sabale, a farmer from Olamani told media persons.
The farmers said many times while they are engaged in harvesting the crops, they have to flee from their fields as they are afraid of attacks by the elephants.
Shivaji Patil, Shamrao Sabale and others lamented that paddy and other crops in several acres in their fields have been destroyed by the tuskers. Their hopes for better yield of paddy have been dashed.
They have submitted a memorandum to the forest and revenue authorities demanding compensation and also a task force to chase away the tuskers who are freely roaming across the banks of Malaprabha river, causing menace.
According to the farmers in Western Khanapur taluka region, they have lost almost 75 per cent of the crops in the plain agricultural lands. With the elephant menace, their hopes of getting better yield in the marshy lands too have been dashed leaving them in the lurch.
