Wild boar attacks lead to crop damage

Chennai: Farmers from the villages of Ponneri taluk are badly hit due to frequent attack of wild boars that has resulted in crop damage.

According to farmers, more than 100 acres of farmland at Chinnakavanam, Gudavanchery, Periya Kavanam are at threat here, due to attack of wild boars that visit the fields after 10pm.

“Many small farmers like me are suffering losses. We have been witnessing the problem since last year. Part of my crop is damaged too,” said E. Devaraj, a farmer who is cultivating paddy at ChinnaKavanam.

S. Elangovan, cultivating paddy at his 10-acre field,  is oblivious of how to save his crop. “The damage is witnessed in parts of my farm. We have brought the issue to the officials from the Ponneri town panchayat. There should be a solution to the issue,” said Elangovan.

They appealed to forest officials to help them barricade against the wild boar attack. According to them, the wild boars sometimes attack them while being chased into the fields, causing injuries.

Meanwhile, the forest department officials said that they had not received any complaints so far. “We can compensate the victims, after they submit the application to the forest range officer, through the agricultural officer and village administrative officer. This should be done within 24 hours of such incident,” said an official from forest department, Madharpakkam.