Lok Sabha Question No. 620 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-19
Subject: Damage to Crops by Stray Animals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

O.I.H

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.620

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH   DECEMBER, 2017

## DAMAGE TO CROPS BY STRAY ANIMALS

620.   SHRI  UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  paid  attention  towards  the  damage  to  crops  by  stray animals in rural areas;
- (b) if so, the remedial steps taken in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating/has proposed to install wire fencing under the MGNREGA to protect crops of the farmers; and
- (d) if so, the time by which and the manner in which it is likely to be installed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b):  Stray animals damage agricultural crops in rural areas.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has informed that there are mechanisms in place for compensating the loss of farmer's crop damaged by stray wild animals, which varies from State to State. The Ministry provides financial assistance to State/Union Territory  Government  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  Integrated  Development  of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitats in the country.  It includes compensation for depredation by stray wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property.  Beside compensation, financial assistance is also provided for  other  mechanisms  including  construction/  erection  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed  wire fence.  State Government also provides relief from their own funds for damage to crops by stray wild animals.

Assistance  as  provided  to  the  States  for  setting  up  of  Gokul  Grams  for  development  and conservation  of  indigenous  breeds  including  40%  unproductive  animals  under  Rashtriya  Gokul Mission along with various other components subject as per the norms of the scheme.

The  State  like  Uttar  Pradesh,  Rajasthan  and  Madhya  Pradesh  have  taken  steps  for  stray cattles.  Uttar  Pradesh  has  provision  to  keep  such  stray  animals  in  Goshalas  and  Gosadan.  In Rajasthan, The State Government provide support for fencing of fields under flexi fund of National Mission  on  Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP)  scheme.    'Madhya  Pradesh  Gopalan  Evam Pashudhan Samvardhan Board' is functional in the State under which 604 Gaushalas are operated. The Board also provides financial support for these cattle rearing etc. NGO's are motivated to open as many Gaushalas to contain the problem of stray animals, besides animal keepers are motivated to keep their animals in the households and not to free them to move on the streets.

(c) & (d): The Department of Rural Development, Government of India is not contemplating or proposing to install wire fencing under MGNREGA to protect crops of the farmers.

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