Growers seek urgent government action
VALPOI
Farmers in Sattari taluka, who are already dealing with damage caused by gaurs, wild boars, monkeys and giant squirrels, are now facing another problem — porcupines. The animals have become a serious threat to plantations, adding to the worries of orchard owners. In Advoi village, nearly 20 young coconut palms in the plantation of farmer Udaysing Rane were badly damaged by porcupines.
“The coconut palms were destroyed in a single night. The young plants were grown with great effort and were well looked after. Their sudden destruction has left me upset and unsure about how to manage the plantation in the future,” said Rane.
“How can farmers continue farming and maintain production in such conditions?” he asked.
Rane has appealed to the government to take immediate action. He warned that if the issue is not addressed quickly, farmers’ livelihoods could be at risk.
For almost ten years, plantations in Sattari taluka have suffered losses due to wild boars, gaurs, monkeys and giant squirrels.
Farmers have repeatedly demanded that these animals be declared pests and that permission be given to control their numbers. However, they say their concerns have not reached the authorities and no strong action has been taken so far.
Despite trying different preventive steps, farmers have not been able to stop the damage. This has made it harder for them to continue farming.
Farmers and orchard owners fear that if government agencies continue to ignore the issue, their survival could be threatened. The monkey problem remains serious, with frequent cases of coconuts being plucked and damaged.
Farmers say they have been raising the issue of wildlife damage for the past decade, but officials have not given it enough attention. They warn that if the government continues to stay silent, the situation could become worse in the coming years.
