Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 4: Monkeys have been annually damaging various type of crops covering over 15,000 hectares of land in Jammu division of the state.
In Jammu division, major crops like maize, wheat, rice and vegetable crops covering 15596 hectares of agricultural land falling in more than 250 villages of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts get damaged annually by monkeys, Minister for Agriculture G H Mir told State Legislative Assembly here.
Replying to the Call Attention Notice of rebel BJP member Jagdish Raj Sapolia regarding monkey menace, Mir said the annual financial loss on this account has been worked to the tune of Rs 32.93 crore.
In Kashmir division, there is less threat of monkeys to the agriculture crops, Mir said, adding in hilly areas near forests, there are areas in pockets where there is little threat to agricultural crops from wild animals, including monkeys.
As far as the horticulture sector is concerned, in Jammu division, monkeys cause substantial loss to the fruit crops like mango, guava, bear, grapes, citres fruit, litchi, sandy pear, peach, plum and apricot in an area of 68,384 hectares of land.
The estimate damage is caused to 9,426 metric tonnes of fruit production at estimated cost of Rs 4.72 crore.
He said in Basholi Constituency of Kathua district the mango grown areas falling in village viz hut Drammanm, Jannu, Sandher, Rehan, Palehir, Plakkh, Plassi and some parts of Preta, Poonda, Sabar, Marapatti, Basholi, Rehalta are among the worst affected. The pear crop in Sanargheti (Dhar Mahanpur), Bhoond and Sialag village are also affected due to monk menace. The estimated loss to fruit crops in Basohli Constituency is around Rs 10 to 12 lakh.
The Minster said various measures have been taken to prevent damage to agriculture and horticulture crop by monkeys.
He said Agriculture Department is creating awareness among the farming community, through its extension agency by recommending the cultivation of alternative crops like Turmeric, Ginger, Okara and Marigold in the agricultural fields, vulnerable to damage by monkeys.
Further, to control the said menace, fruit trees which monkeys prefer for shelter needs to be planted along with periphery of forest and protected areas boundaries to augment the food availability for them so that they remain restricted in the forest areas only and do not come out, to damage the fruit crops in cultivated land.
He said further, it is mentioned that fruit species which are already exiting in the forests of these areas, such as wild pear (Kiainth) apricot, peach quince, persimmon, etc. must be preserved and should not be allowed to be felled / destroyed.
Expressing concern over monkey menace particularly in Basholi area, Jagdish Raj Sapolia said monkeys have been causing considerable damage to the crops.
He demanded an awareness campaign be created regarding the same and wild fruit trees be planted in jungles so that monkeys don’t attack the crops and fruit in villages.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel