PANAJI
With farmers pushing to get the government to declare wild boar as vermin and the State government expediting this process, statistics over the last five years have revealed that wild boars are alone responsible for 13.14% of crops destroyed by all wildlife in the State.
Statistics with the agriculture department have revealed that losses faced by farmers due to destruction of crops by all wild animals from 2016-17 to 2020-21 is Rs 63.28 lakh, which consists of losses by wild boars (Rs 8.32 lakh) and other wildlife (Rs 54.96 lakh).
Details have revealed that the State government has paid compensation of Rs 35 lakh to the farmers who have suffered losses during these five years.
According to sources, farmers are not getting insurance benefits as insurance for crops against wild boar destruction is not considered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana scheme.
Meanwhile, different measures are underway to protect crops from destruction caused by wild boar and other wild animals.
While the ICAR at Ela Old Goa is conducting a study of the efficacy of wild boar repellents, the State government is also providing a battery-powered fence to protect crops from wild boar and other animals.
