Freshly sown paddy saplings damaged; locals urge administration to step in
Budgam: Farmers in several villages of Chadoora in central Kashmirs Budgam district have raised serious concern over the growing menace of wild boars, saying frequent crop damage is pushing them into distress and financial uncertainty.
Residents from several areas including Repora, Namthall, Checkpora and Buchroo as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that, since few days their freshly sown fields are being repeatedly ravaged by wild boars. Farmers said they had recently sown paddy saplings and other grain seeds, but are now witnessing large-scale destruction.
“We had just sown our crops with hardwork, but within days everything is getting destroyed. Since few days, every morning, we see our fields ruined by wild boars,” said Farooq Ahmed, a farmer from Repora.
Social activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat said, “The government must act immediately by installing traps and relocating wild boars to safer areas to prevent further damage to crops. At the same time, I urge farmers to sow additional paddy so that extra saplings can be shared with those affected if losses continue.”
Locals said that in recent days, wild boars have damaged nearly 20 paddy saplings in different locations, causing losses at a crucial stage of cultivation. They added that such incidents are becoming frequent, affecting multiple villages.
Ghulam Mohiuddin Paul, a resident of Buchroo, said the situation is worsening with each passing day. “This is not a one-time incident. It has become a routine problem now. We are suffering continuous losses, and no one seems to be taking it seriously,” he said.
Farmers said the repeated intrusion is not only damaging crops but also breaking their morale. “We spend days and months working in the fields, but all our efforts are undone overnight,” they said.
Locals, particularly farmers, have appealed to the district administration to intervene and take immediate steps to address the issue. They have demanded preventive measures so that they can have a sigh of relief.
Residents also expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged inaction of the Wildlife Department, urging authorities to act swiftly and put in place effective measures to safeguard crops during the ongoing agricultural season.
With agriculture being the primary source of livelihood in the area, farmers warned that continued neglect could push many families towards severe economic hardship—(KNO)
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