Uttarakhand: Migration commission will prepare a report on how much agriculture is being destroyed by wild animals, a concrete policy can be made
Every year in the state, wild animals are ruining the hard work of farmers by damaging crops. This problem is forcing farmers to leave farming. For the first time, the Migration Commission will prepare a report on the farming being ruined due to this problem. So that the state government can make a concrete policy to solve the problem.
Elephants, Nilgai in the plains of the state and monkeys and wild pigs in the mountainous areas are destroying crops. In view of the loss, farmers are also leaving farming and looking for other options for livelihood. The area of Mandua, Jhangora in the mountains and maize in the plains has decreased.
At the time of formation of the state, the total agricultural area was 7.70 lakh hectares. Which has come down to 6.21 lakh hectares in the year 2022-23. That is, there has been a decrease of 1.49 lakh hectares in agricultural area. Due to farmers leaving farming, the area of fallen land (land on which cultivation was done earlier is now barren) is increasing. In 2001, there was 1.07 lakh hectare fallow land in the state. Which has increased to 1.91 lakh hectares.
Responsibility given to prepare a report by conducting a survey in the state
In view of the damage caused to crops by wild animals, the state government has for the first time entrusted the responsibility of preparing a report by conducting a survey in the entire state to the Migration Commission. The commission will find out how much agricultural land is being destroyed every year due to this problem and how much loss is being suffered by the farmers. It will also give suggestions to solve the problem. Till now the Agriculture and Horticulture Department does not have a concrete plan to solve the problem.
The state government has given the commission the responsibility to prepare a report by conducting a survey on the damage caused to crops by wild animals. The commission will work on it soon. The commission will focus on how the problem can be solved.
-Dr. SS Negi, Vice President, Migration Commission
