Question : Damage of Crops by Wild-Stray Animals

(a) whether farmers’ crops are being damaged by wild animals/stray animals including cattle in many States of the country and the farmers have to protect their crops by remaining awake all night, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any study/survey has been conducted on the damage to crops due to wild animals and stray cattle and the loss incurred by the farmers in States including Rajasthan during the last three years, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the affected farmers are being compensated for their losses and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has taken any effective steps to protect the crops/ farms and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has proposed or is proposing any new programme in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.




STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 220 DUE FOR REPLY ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2019.

(a): The wild and stray cattle/animals cause damage to crops in many states of the country. The farmers protect their crops using various methods viz; individual and collective protection, barbed wire fencing, erection of physical barriers etc.

(b): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare does not conduct assessment/study for the value of loss to the field crops by wild animals and stray cattle. The quantum loss of crops destroyed by stray cattle and wild animals are managed by concerned State/Union Territories.

(c) & (d): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) provides the financial assistance to the States/Union Territories under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat’, ‘Project Tiger’, and ‘Project Elephant’ for management of wildlife and its habitats in the country. The activities supported under the schemes inter alia include construction/erection of physical barriers, such as solar powered electric fence including others like barbed wire fence, bio-fencing using cactus boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields. Besides Ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change is also taking measures viz; ‘Immuno-contraceptive measures’ for controlling the population of wild animals.

Under the revised guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Rabi 2018-19, states have been given liberty to consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to be substantial and identifiable.

(e): No Sir.
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