Tanahun farmers demand steps to control monkey menace

By Our Correspondent 

Tanahun, May 18 : Farmers in Tanahun have demanded for an immediate programme to control the monkey menace. They have complained that the monkeys destroy not only the standing crops in the fields but also the food stored inside their homes. The farmers complained that they have to stay alert at all time to chase the simians away. They also said that the monkeys attack women, children, and the elderly when they go to chase them.  

The Agricultural Knowledge Centre in Tanahun recently held discussions with representatives and members of 12 different farmer groups/cooperatives involved in various agricultural activities in the district. 

The farmers said that the rise in monkey population has made farming fruitless and that the government should pay attention to control the monkeys. 

According to Bamdev Mishra of Byas Municipality-11, the monkeys destroy the crops entering the farm before they ripen, they even enter the house and steal food and attack the humans.

Mishra said, “It has been years since we have been unable to harvest crops and fruits. The government has not introduced any programme to control them. If a programme to control monkeys is not initiated, people will be forced to abandon the farming occupation.”

He also mentioned that the three tiers of governments had not paid attention to solving the problem of monkeys. 

The main recommendation made in the discussions, according to Kul Prasad Tiwari, Senior Agricultural Development Officer of the Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Tanahun, was to control monkeys because, in most areas, farmers were terrorised by them. 

The farmers have also demanded that the government facilitate for easy distribution and sale of additional agricultural products in the market, said Tiwari.

Similarly, Tiwari said that the farmers requested grants based on profitability rather than just initial funding. They also emphasised agricultural loans as a concession instead of the office publishing information and asking for applications, the farmers should provide services reaching the villages or farms. 

Tiwari said, “The government should either control the monkeys or make arrangements for compensation, or there is no option but to leave the occupation.” 

He said that there should be an arrangement for regular skilled technical skills in the villages, to establish and operate local markets, and if the land is left barren, the local municipality or ward should permit those without land to use it on a contract basis. 

A programme should be made to arrange tripartite agreements with traders who purchase agricultural produce, small irrigation and, introduce the concept of agriculture, Tiwari added. 

Moreover, farmers had also requested support for operational expenses for large farms and the establishment of proper systems for seed, fertiliser, and irrigation.