State-level conclave to discuss strategy to address human-wildlife conflict: Minister

A State-level conclave will be held at Thiruvambady on September 29 to evolve scientific and practical solutions to wildlife attacks faced by farmers in Keralam’s hilly regions, Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said on Sunday (September 20).

The conclave, is organised by the Agriculture department in association with the Forest department as part of the government’s 100-day action programme.

Experts from Veterinary University, Kerala Agricultural University, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Wildlife Institute of India, Kerala Forest Research Institute, and agri-tech startups, besides farmers, will attend the conclave.

The government plans to explore artificial intelligence, bio-fencing, and technology-based barriers, along with conventional methods, to protect agricultural land from wildlife attacks. Preventive measures will be taken at three levels — crop-centric, species-centric and area-centric, Mr. Siddique said.

The Minister said the government preferred the term “wildlife attack prevention” to “human-wildlife conflict”, pointing out that attacks on agricultural land were largely one-sided. Practical recommendations emerging from the conclave would be implemented as pilot projects in different parts of the State, he added.

He also said that climate change had placed the agricultural sector in the State under severe stress. He had raised the issue at a meeting of South Indian Agriculture Ministers held in Hyderabad, he said.

Temperatures rising to as high as 36 degrees Celsius during the daytime, summer drought, intense monsoon rainfall, cloudbursts, and landslides were adversely affecting agricultural production in the State, according to the Minister. He said the Agriculture department is preparing a programme in association with Kerala Agricultural University and Amrita University to develop climate-resilient farming practices and crop varieties.

A long-term resilience roadmap is also being prepared in coordination with the Irrigation department and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, he added.

The State has sought special financial assistance from the Union government to undertake measures to deal with emergencies and crop losses caused by climate change, Mr. Siddique said. On compensation for wildlife attacks, he said the Forest department was taking steps to increase the compensation substantially. Compensation for crop losses caused by wildlife attacks had already been increased by 25%. Steps were under way to clear pending compensation payments.

The government was also expediting the disbursement of disaster management fund arrears dating back to 2021 and pending payments to farmers cultivating seed coconuts. Necessary changes would also be made to insurance coverage to ensure maximum benefits to farmers affected by wildlife attacks, the Minister said.