Find a solution in coexistence, not by killing monkeys and boars

माघ १५, २०८१

सम्पादकीय

Find a solution in coexistence, not by killing monkeys and boars

The sufferings of farmers are many. Lack of seeds to plant crops, irrigation to grow and fertilizers to increase yields is common. There are many families whose agricultural production does not support the family.

Even those who cultivate large areas do not get a reasonable price in the sale of their crops. As a result, it is difficult not only to make agriculture the main occupation, but also to make a living from it. Added to this series of woes is the loss of crops caused by monkeys and wild boars. Farmers are surprised by these two animals because they not only eat the crops, but also destroy the fruits. In some places, it is difficult to preserve even the grain kept inside the house. Although there has been a debate for a long time, the government has issued a notice in the gazette on January 10 to address this problem, based on which it is expected that monkeys and wild boars will be controlled. However, this arrangement does not appear to be sufficient. 

According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, red monkeys can be chased, chased, captured and wild boars can be killed under certain conditions. Earlier killing of these animals was totally punishable. Now the conditions have been set that can be expelled individually or collectively. In the case of being caught, it should be submitted to the relevant office. If a boar dies, it can be buried or consumed by paying revenue, but if a monkey dies, it has to be buried. The ministry's notification has opened the way for killing the animals but has not provided guidelines for a reliable solution. The suffering of farmers will not be different by killing two/four animals that came to the farm. This requires finding creative solutions.

These days, mainly due to the suffering caused by monkeys and wild boars, farmers in many places in the hilly areas have abandoned farming, and some settlements have been displaced. As a result, the arable land is becoming barren and it is difficult for the farmers to avoid drought. This has increased the rate of food imports. Where farming or livelihood was the basis, where families were raised by labor, there is a compulsion to go to another place and find another source of income. It disrupts the traditional experience and legacy and throws people into a new confusion. In mountainous regions, the population decreases and in urban or terai areas, abnormal pressure increases. One of the many reasons that affect the balance of population geographically is the problem created by wild animals like monkeys and boars in the mountains.

The active members of the family, who could have been involved in non-agricultural activities, are also involved in monkey hunting. It is clear that the sufferings shared by farmers, public programs organized by stakeholders, ongoing discussions in parliament or parliamentary committees, and studies conducted by various agencies have become a national issue. Therefore, it is too late to find a concrete and sustainable solution to the problem. Of course, there is no single method, nor is there any guarantee of absolute success. By adopting many measures, the success achieved in part is an achievement. The government may also have to open legal channels for such measures. Skilled manpower may also need to be prepared through training. Local government can play an active role for this. He can form a team in coordination with the farmers to follow and drive away the activities of such animals. Sterilization campaigns can also be another solution. Which will gradually reduce the number of monkeys. 

As the problem of monkeys and boars is a national crisis, it is not possible to solve the problem only by a gazette notice. For this, immediate and long-term policies should be adopted. For the time being, there is a need for innovation in methods and tools to drive away monkeys. Since the monkeys are getting bored with devices like crackers, there is a need for innovation in this too. When a person or a group is chased by any means, the monkey will not only kill something, but that creature will also struggle to survive. However, with us, plantations in the last four decades have grown trees of the same nature, where fruits have ceased to be found. But biodiversity is essential for natural coexistence. If there is no variety of fruits in the forest, the monkey eventually comes to the farm, as an animal it is a struggle for him too. Therefore, on the initiative of the government and the community, wild fruit trees should also be planted in the community forest. Similarly, the question of whether animals like monkeys encroached or human race is the same. Therefore, an intermediate zone should be developed between animal habitats and human settlements, where various fruit trees can be grown. All these works cannot be done overnight, until then, we should also study sterilization measures to reduce the number of monkeys. Similarly, to protect farmers' sweat earnings, encourage cash crops that monkeys don't like 

should be done for which ginger, turmeric, cardamom and different types of herbs can be cultivated. Despite this, compensation and insurance programs should also be carried out effectively to provide relief to the farmers affected by the damage caused by monkeys. In this way, the human settlement will be relieved from the menace of monkeys and boars only if immediate and long-term policies are carried out in parallel.

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