Govt. to count crop-raiding animals

by Chaminda Silva

The government has requested farmers and villagers to assist in a countrywide census of wild animals, such as giant squirrels, peafowl, monkeys and porcupines, responsible for crop depredation and submit the findings to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Resources, Namal Karunaratne, yesterday requested farmers and villagers to count wild animals present on their fields, etc., within a specific five-minute period on 15 March. The Ministry would announce the exact time of the commencement of the census, Karunaratne said.

All government officials, including Grama Niladharis, would be involved in the animal census, the Minister said, adding that landowners should inform the relevant officers about the number of crop raiders present on their properties.

Officials would conduct the census on lands where owners were present, the Deputy Minister said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Farmers’ Union Anuradha Tennakoon, said that the Ministry should identify and categorise the affected areas as zones to enumerate the crop raiding animals scientifically.  “But a survey of crops should be conducted first,” he said, adding that asking the farmers to count wild animals on their cultivation for five minutes on March 15 was hilarious.