Joint initiative to mitigate human-elephant conflict

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: To mitigate human-elephant conflict and to take a step towards persistence and survival of elephants and well-being of the farming community, particularly in Sadiya region of Tinsukia district, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tinsukia, in association with Doomdooma forest division, has taken up a joint initiative with the farming community of Ghurmora Chapori.

The issue was discussed in threadbare in a group meeting with 30 farm families of Ghurmora Chapori recently where Dr. Sanjoy Borthakur, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Tinsukia and Rajendra Singh Bharti, DFO Doomdooma forest division, deliberated among others. While Khirud Saikia, Range Officer, Sadiya, dwelt on the farmer's perspective and future prospect of agriculture, the farmers shared their ordeals that they faced during cultivation and production of maize and potato due to destruction of wild elephants. Though they used conventional physical exclusion methods such as electric fences, trenches and drums, sometimes these became ineffective, they said.

In this regard KVK, Tinsukia proposed to adopt large-scale plantation of banana and other forage crops near elephant corridors to supply food and habitat for elephants, thereby reducing the entry to the farmers' fields. DFO Bharti took responsibility of surveying the area and will formulate a future work plan with clear cut responsibility of all the stakeholders. Dr Borthakur has suggested the farmers present in the meeting to discuss the matter in the Gaon Sabha and to fix responsibilities to the villagers in collaboration with the Forest Department.

The programme was also attended by Sanchayeeta Gohain, SMS (Horticulture) and Priyanka Amonge, SMS (Agronomy), KVK Tinsukia who shared their views.

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