Farmers want govt to find way to protect crops

Bicholim: Farmers in Latambarcem are aggrieved over the huge losses incurred due to the damage caused by the intrusion of wild animals. They urged the government todeal with the absence of protection to their paddy crops and plantation.
The farmers and plantation owners in and around Latambarcem held a meeting at the Sateri temple premises in Nanora recently todiscuss their problems caused by the rising attacks of wild animals.
Farmers urged the state government to work out mechanisms to protect their crops, though they did not specify the nature of solutions. The meeting was attended by Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal, ZP Shilpa Naik, sarpanch Mohini Gawas, president of animal rescue squad- Bicholim Amrutsingh, ZAO Anant Hoble, forest official Anant Parob, WRD engineer P V Sreekumar, a large number of farmers and others.
Prakash Vazarkar, a farmer, said, "We put in a lot of hard effort to cultivate and raise our farms and plantation but our efforts are in vain, thanks to animals like wild boars, monkeys, peacocks and others that consume the produce."
Crops include paddy, sugarcane, banana, coconuts, betel nuts and other plantations. Sharad Fadke, another farmer, said "Many farmers face starvation as they have been severely affected due to the destruction of their grown up plantations by wild animals."
Sawal assured the farmers that he would undertake remedial measures to protect their farms. Mohan Kerkar, Vishnudas Parmekar were also among those who voiced their grievances.