Wild animals have struck at the root of farming activity inSattari. Most of farmers in Sattari have been badly affected by the wildanimals in the last two years, as these animals enter into the fields anddestroy crops.
Wild animals like bisons, wild boars and elephants enterinto the grown fields and destroy the same causing heavy losses to the farmers.Besides paddy the animals also damage coconut, cashew and banana plantations.
Agriculture is the main source of income for people inSattari. Almost 70 percent of the locals in the surrounding villages depend onagriculture. As per records at Zonal Agriculture Office in Valpoi about 86farmers have lodged complaints of crop destruction by wild animals in the lasttwo years.
As per information received from the farmers wild animalsenter the fields during the nights and day too. Bisons are the main culpritsthat mostly destroy the crops, farmers reported. Although the farmers havegiven written complaints about destruction of their crops, they are yet toreceive compensation from the government.
According to Anant Hobble, Zonal Agriculture Officer fromSattari reports of the destruction of crops has already been dispatched to thehigher authorities. “As per our duty we have worked out an estimate of lossesand submitted the report to the government. We are yet to get a reply fromsenior officials,” he said.
“As per the Wild Preservation Act 1972 we cannot kill wildanimals even as they destroy our livelihood. The farmers are helpless inprotecting their own crop,” said Fati Gaonkar a farmer from Thane. Governmentshould safe guard the interest of farmers and agriculture, he said.
The forest department is aware of the destruction caused bywild animals to crops.
“Whenever we receive complaints we take necessary action. Wehave our ways of driving the animals deep into the forest. In the last twoyears we have handled around 36 such cases,” said Mohammad Aga, Range ForestOfficer, Valpoi.
Aga warns that deforestation and development taking place inthe forest has disturbed the habitat of the animals. “Humans have startedactivity in forests and poached into animal land. Where will these animals go?Naturally they then enter into the fields and the villages,” Aga rationalized.
