Valpoi: In order to press for their demand to declare monkeys as vermin, farmers have decided to stage a massive demonstration against the government, under the banner of Sattari Shetkari Manch (SSM).
If the demand is not met, farmers from Sattari taluka will protest in Valpoi on December 14. The decision was taken after a meeting of farmers from Sattari taluka in Nagargao village on Sunday.
The protest will be staged to highlight the menace of wild animals, particularly monkeys, which the farmers claim are causing more damage than even wild boars, SSM members said.
While welcoming the government order for allowing culling of wild boar, the farmers said the order needs more clarity. Pressing for their demand for the declaration of monkeys as vermin, they said monkeys pose a greater nuisance. They also demanded that the 10 km wildlife buffer zone be reduced to 1 km.
The Goa government recently issued a notification, authorising the deputy conservator of forests to permit controlled killing of wild boars. But the farmers of Sattari taluka are of the opinion that monkeys cause more damage due to regular crop raids.
Farmer Manikarao Desai said the state was facing an acute shortage of coconuts, the prime reason for which are monkeys. “We are not against any animals but the government should take appropriate measures to stop crop raiding. If the government is giving arms licence for self-protection, why is it denying arms licence to farmers to protect crops from wild animals?” he asked.
“Don’t make farmers helpless. Give us our right to protect our crops from these animals. Forests have full right to protect their animals in their protected sites but don’t expect us to protect animals when they raid our fields,” Desai said.
Convener Ashok Joshi said they have been demanding that the simians be declared as vermin, and their concern had been brought to the notice to all elected representatives.
“Around 4,500 applications were submitted till date to the state government. We also attached notification from various states in support of our demand. We welcome the government’s decision to declare wild boar as vermin. At the same time, we would be happy if the government puts monkeys also in the category of vermin. Similarly, without arms licence and without weapons, it is impossible to protect our crops. The forest department should understand that some trees planted by it have damaged fruit-bearing trees, which was leading to frequent animal raids in the cultivated areas,” Joshi said.
Supporting the demand, Vasudev Parob said, “We should create awareness among the farming community about our demand and also take responsibility for sowing seeds of fruit-bearing trees adjoining the forest areas.”
Ganpat Gaonkar said it was high time that farmers raise their voice through agitations rather than only submitting representations.
Surekha Barve stressed on transfer of arms licence to the legal heirs of farmers, adding, “The legal heirs should get the arms licence as it will help us protect our crops from wild animals.”
The SSM issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to meet its demands. “In these 15 days, we will visit all villages and educate the farming community about our movement,” SSM members said after the meeting.
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