Crop Raids Surge: Monkeys, Nilgai threaten Jammu farms
From abandoned fields to changing crop patterns, farmers face mounting losses
Srinagar, Apr 02: The growing menace of monkeys and blue bulls (Nilgai) is taking a heavy toll on agriculture across Jammu division, with farmers reporting crop losses worth crores and, in some cases, abandoning cultivation altogether.
Replying to a query by MLA Vijay Kumar, the J&K government acknowledged that wild animals—particularly rhesus macaques and Nilgai—have caused widespread damage to key crops such as wheat, maize, paddy, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and horticultural produce across multiple districts.
The impact has been especially severe in the kandi belt districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Reasi, where repeated crop destruction has forced farmers to leave thousands of hectares uncultivated. The government noted that the continued damage has not only reduced agricultural output but also caused economic distress and declining interest in traditional farming practices.
The government said it is promoting a shift in cropping patterns. “Farmers are being encouraged to adopt less palatable and high-value alternatives such as chilli, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and aromatic crops like lavender and lemongrass under schemes like the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). Mixed farming and agro-forestry practices are also being promoted as sustainable solutions,” the reply read.
To mitigate wildlife intrusion, protective measures are being implemented, including installation of solar fencing, use of bio-acoustic deterrent devices, and deployment of scare guns. The Forest Department has also initiated habitat management efforts, such as planting fruit-bearing trees and developing water sources within forest areas to reduce animals’ movement toward farmlands.
The government said awareness campaigns are being carried out to discourage feeding monkeys and educate communities on precautionary measures to minimize human-wildlife conflict. Notably, the rhesus macaque has been removed from the list of protected animals following the 2022 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, limiting the direct intervention role of the Wildlife Protection Wing to awareness and advisory functions.
Despite these measures, the crisis continues to reshape the agricultural landscape in Jammu, with farmers hoping for more robust, long-term solutions to reclaim their fields from persistent wildlife threats.
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