Kokani.me Kokani.me
Lanja: Farmers are suffering during the rice crop season as the monkey sterilization proposal is pending to curb the large-scale nuisance of monkeys to fruit orchards and agricultural crops in Ratnagiri district. The monkey census was conducted in the month of May by the forest department.
Meanwhile, after giving the green light from the state government, the sterilization campaign of monkeys and apes in Ratnagiri district will be implemented through the forest department in the month of October. A proposal was submitted to the state government through the district forest department to sterilize the monkey to eliminate the nuisance caused by monkeys. Mr. Avinash Kale, a farmer and horticulturist from Golap, raised his voice about the pest from monkeys, betel nut, mango, paddy cultivation, vegetable cultivation, etc. Due to the large increase in the number of monkeys, there has been an increase in the incidence of monkeys on agricultural crops and orchards, which is causing loss to farmers. Taking cognizance of the damage caused by monkeys and apes, Guardian Minister Uday Samant and MLAs, People’s Representatives along with Konkan Agricultural University and Forest Officers formed a committee after the increase in the number of monkeys in other states, they did monkey sterilization as a preventive measure. Due to this, good results have been seen and in this background this activity can be implemented in Konkan.
The committee headed by Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), MLA from Konkan, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant, Professor of Konkan Agricultural University, Commissioner of Agriculture and Dr. A study group was appointed by the representative of Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University. The district forest department, as per the instructions of the state government, undertook a campaign to enumerate monkeys in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad. The survey was carried out on behalf of the forest department and local citizens.
The forest department has given the data of the survey to an organization in Kerala. After getting approval from the state government, the forest department is going to arrest and sterilize the monkeys in Ratnagiri district.
