Surendranagar farmers contend with wild ass menace

Farmers of the district have been long dealing with the menace of wild asses straying from the nearby sanctuary and damaging crops. The magnitude of the problem can be gauged by the fact that according to the Agriculture department, almost all farmers of the affected region are losing over 15 per cent of their annual crop due to the damage caused by these animals.

Abbasi told Newsline: “The animals enter the fields in groups of over 25 and feed on the crops and damage them. The farmers have now started employing private guards to save their crop. They cannot take any step against wild asses, as they are protected animals.”

According to Abbasi, the guards charge Rs 10 per bigha (2.5 bighas = 1 acre) per year. The farmers of the district have confirmed Abbasi’s version.

Vinubhai Patel from Lakhtar taluka said: “This year, I have cultivated only 240 kg of sesame in my farm of 15 bighas. Earlier, I used to harvest 120 kg sesame per bigha. But the wild ass and other animals like nilgai and deer have affected agriculture immensely. The problem is so

serious that many farmers have stopped growing bajra.”

Kanubhai Patel, another farmer, said the farmers of the region have demanded some solution from the political leaders, but in vain.

According to the latest figures available with the Forest department, there are 3,864 wild asses in the sanctuary out of which at least 500 have left the sanctuary limits and live in agriculture areas.

Even the state Agriculture department has admitted that the problem is very significant for the farmers of the district. The District Agriculture Officer, Janak Kalotara, said the problem is quite serious in Halvad, Dhangadhra and Patdi talukas of the district.

Extenstion Officer (Agriculture) of Halvad, Surendranagar district, V K Gadhiya said: “This is a genuine problem of the farmers, as they are losing around 15 per cent of their crop due to this menace.”

Surendranagar Collector J D Bhad said that only the Forest department can take some steps to check this.

Dhrangadhra Range Forest Officer G A Zala said: “The only solution to stop these animals from moving out of the sanctuary is to erect a strong fencing on the border.”

He added: “But would cost a lot. We work with the farmers, who voluntarily help our officials in keeping the wild asses within the sanctuary limits. But that is only a temporary solution. Only government intervention can solve the problem.”