Crops Damaged by Wild Boars: Farmers Protest in Byadgi Demanding Compensation

HAVERI

Farmers from Alalageri and surrounding areas of Byadgi taluk staged a protest at the Taluk Panchayat office, demanding compensation of ₹25,000 per acre for cowpea crops destroyed by wild boars.

Protesters, including Ishwara Matha and Shivakumar Kallapura, said wild boars had repeatedly attacked farmlands adjacent to forest areas, including near Byadgi town. They accused the Forest Department of ignoring their long-standing demand to install protective measures such as fencing or canals around the forest boundary to prevent such destruction.

“Crops grown with loans and heavy investment have been ruined. What little food was expected from the harvest is gone. We are left with nothing to feed our families. Compensation is our only hope,” said Matha.

The agitating farmers called for immediate government action, claiming that similar pleas over the past two years have gone unheard.

Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer K.M. Mallikarjuna and Manager Prakash Hiremath met the protesting farmers and assured them that a detailed report would be submitted to the government to seek compensation at the earliest.