Jammu, March 24: The escalating monkey menace in Reasi district has reached a critical point, forcing many farmers to abandon traditional agriculture due to relentless crop destruction. The situation has raised widespread concerns within the farming community, as continued losses threaten their livelihoods.
In response to the issue raised by MLA Kuldeep Raj Dubey in the ongoing Assembly session, the government outlined a comprehensive action plan to mitigate the crisis and support affected farmers through targeted interventions in the horticulture sector.
The government has devised a multi-pronged approach, focusing on alternative crop cultivation, financial assistance, and technological interventions to address the problem effectively.
“To deter monkeys, farmers are being encouraged to cultivate aromatic plants such as lemongrass and lavender, which are unappealing to the primates. Presently, lemongrass is grown across 15 hectares in the Panthal, Reasi, and Pouni blocks, while lavender cultivation has been introduced across three hectares in the Gulabgarh block,” the government said in its reply.
It said that that additionally, farmers are being guided towards medicinal crops such as aloe vera, ginger, garlic, and turmeric, which have high commercial value and are generally avoided by monkeys. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Reasi and the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIM), Jammu, are conducting training workshops to equip farmers with the necessary skills to cultivate these crops successfully.
The government reply also reads that in highly affected areas, farmers are being advised to switch to fruit crops that monkeys tend to avoid, including–Citrus lime, Aonla (Indian gooseberry), Aloe vera, Keronda (Carissa carandas) and dragon fruit.
“This shift is aimed at reducing crop damage while ensuring continued agricultural productivity,” the reply reads, adding that to protect farmland, the government is offering 50 per cent financial assistance (up to Rs 1.0 lakh per hectare) under the JKCIP scheme for the installation of solar fencing around agricultural fields. This measure is expected to act as a strong deterrent against monkey intrusions.
The government also said that the use of monkey repeller guns is being promoted in orchard areas to help farmers safeguard their crops. These devices emit loud noises to scare away monkeys without causing them harm. “To curb the movement of monkeys into agricultural zones, the government has initiated the plantation of fruit-bearing trees in forested areas. This effort aims to create sustainable food sources for monkeys, discouraging them from raiding farmland,” the government said.
The government’s proactive measures signal a strong commitment to tackling the monkey menace while ensuring the revival of agricultural activities in Reasi. “By promoting alternative crops, providing financial aid for protective measures and introducing innovative farming techniques, the administration aims to restore farmer confidence and economic stability in the area,” the reply reads.
