Dhankuta, September 19

Local farmers at Dhankuta Municipality are worried after wild animals destroyed seasonal crops in Dhankuta district.

The farmers’ woes have increased as natural disasters and prolonged drought had hit them earlier and now wild animals have destroyed maize, millet, pulses and cardamom, among other crops.

According to farmers, monkeys, porcupines and deer, among other animals, were destroying their crops. The farmers have started work to protect their crops from wild animals, leaving all other household works.

Man Bahadur Rai, a local, of the municipality said drought had destroyed some seasonal crops and now wild animals had started destroying other crops. “A group of monkeys destroyed maize, tomato and beans, among other vegetables,” he added.

The local farmers complained that the ward office had yet to take initiatives to control wild animals. “We are compelled to stay on empty stomachs as crops have been destroyed,” said another local, Prem Prasad Guragain. He said seasonal crops near the jungle were destroyed.

Farmers have to spend time chasing wild animals, abandoning everything else. The wild animals have also troubled children and women in the area.