Kendrapara: While farmers across the state are experiencing drought and pest attack-induced crop loss, it's crisis of a different kind for peasants in forest-side villages here.
In Kendrapara district, rampaging wild boar species have wrought havoc vandalising the ready-to-harvest crops in fields lying in close proximity to Bhitarkanika National Park. In most villages near the park, distraught farmers have turned into night watchmen to guard their crops.
The mangrove forest cover in the sanctuary is home to wild boars that are plant eating herbivorous animals. But in recent years, the sharp increase in the population of these animals has emerged as a major worry for wildlife officials. The presence of thickly populated villages in the periphery of the forest has exposed villagers and cultivation to wild boar attacks.
"The harvest is good this year. As our area did not suffer pest attack we were expecting good yield. But these wild animals are destroying our harvest. Sneaking into crop fields, they are ravaging the ready-to-harvest produce," rued farmer Baishnab Rout of Khamarasahi village.
The croplands affected by wild boar menace are Brahmanasahi, Deara, Rangani, Dangamala, Hatina, Gupti, Satabhaya, Iswarpur, Khama-sahi, Krushnanagar, Talchua, Baghamari and Keruanpala villages, said Dangmala forest range officer Akshaya Kumar Nayak.
"The forest department is aware of intrusion of animals into villages. Forest personnel have begun night watch and vigil in villages where stray animals intrude. Besides, steel net barricades have also been installed along the borders of the affected villages to avert man-animal conflict," said divisional forest officer, Rajnagar, Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
"To stop animals from entering agriculture fields and damaging crops we have engaged local youths for night patrol. We are hopeful that incidents of wild boars straying into agriculture fields will come down in coming days," said Acharya.
"The intrusion of wild boars into agricultural fields at a time when crops are ready to be cut is enough reason for worry," he said.
