Lok Sabha Question No. 2714 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-09
Subject: Crop Loss due to Wild Animals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

O.I.H.

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2714

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  9 TH  JULY, 2019

## CROP LOSS DUE TO WILD ANIMALS

2714.  SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

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

- (a) whether stray and wild animals destroy crops, if so, the quantum of crops destroyed during the last three years, State-wise;
- (b) the details of the amount of compensation paid to the farmers for the said loss;
- (c) the steps being taken to check the said loss;
- (d) whether the Government is preparing any scheme to install solar power electric fence near cropped area of nearby forests to check the entry of such animals;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the  amount  of  subsidy  likely  to  be  provided  individually  or  collectively  or  to  State agencies for installing solar power electric fence and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a)  to (f):  The quantum loss of crops destroyed by stray and wild animals are managed by concerned State/Union Territories.  Moreover, the Ministry has not received any information from the States regarding quantum of loss of destroyed crops.  The amount of compensation paid  to  the  farmers  and  details  of  losses  as  a  result  of  destroyed  crop  by  stray  and  wilds animals are not collated by the Ministry.

The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forests  and  Climate  Change  provides  the  financial assistance  to  States  under  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of Integrated  Development  of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger and Project Elephant for  management of wildlife and its habitats  in  the  country.    The  activities  supported  under  the  schemes  inter  alia  include construction/  erection  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  solar  powered  electric  fence  including others like barbed wire fence, bio-fencing using cactus boundary walls, etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields.

In  order  to  check  the  losses  of  crops  by  stray  and    wild  animals,  Ministry  of Environment, Forests  and Climate Change is taking following steps:

-  The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immuno-contraceptive measures' for controlling the population of wild animals responsible for damage and destruction of crops.
-  A network of protected areas namely, National Park, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country under the provision of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
-  To mitigate wildlife conflict along the linear infrastructure like rail tracks, roads/highways and power transmission lines passing through the protected areas and other wildlife rich areas, Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife has recommended that all linear infrastructure development agencies shall submit wild animals passage plan based on the Wll  Guideline  'Eco-  Friendly  Measures  to  Mitigate  Impacts  of  linear  infrastructure  on Wildlife'. These  guidelines suggest  for modification in the design of the linear infrastructure  by  way  of  providing  eco-friendly  structure  will  ensure  safe  movement  of wildlife across these linear infrastructures.

In  the  revised  operational  guidelines  of  the  'Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana (PMFBY) from Rabi 2018-19, States have been given liberty to consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to  be substantial and identifiable.

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