SRINAGAR: Farmers in the forest-fringe villages of Samba Assembly Constituency are battling mounting crop losses as troops of rhesus macaques raid fields and orchards, turning cultivation into a daily struggle and pushing many cultivators into distress. Unlike the Valley districts of Kashmir, where such incidents remain limited, the crisis has become more acute across parts of the Jammu region, particularly along the forested belt of Samba district.
Responding to concerns raised by a legislator, the government said the issue is being addressed through a mix of legal, agricultural and preventive measures. Officials noted that the rhesus macaque has been removed from the protected species list following amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, allowing authorities greater flexibility in managing the population and mitigating damage.
On the ground, the primary strategy revolves around reducing crop vulnerability. The Agriculture Department has begun promoting crop diversification in affected areas, encouraging farmers to shift towards plants and produce that monkeys typically avoid. Aromatic and medicinal crops such as lemongrass, palmarosa, mint, tulsi, ashwagandha and aloe vera, along with spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic and chilli, and hardy millets including finger millet and barnyard millet, are being recommended. Officials say these alternatives not only face less wildlife damage but also offer higher market value and niche demand, helping farmers secure better returns.
Physical barriers are also being supported. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Crop Insurance Programme, farmers are receiving 50 per cent financial assistance, up to Rs 1 lakh per hectare, for installing solar fencing around fields to deter animal entry. In orchard zones, monkey scare or repeller guns are being introduced to drive away raiding groups without causing harm.
In addition, the Forest Department has initiated plantation of fruit-bearing species inside forest areas to retain monkeys within their natural habitat and reduce their movement into farms. Awareness campaigns are also underway to discourage people from feeding monkeys, a practice officials say increases their numbers and draws them closer to human settlements.
Authorities maintain that a combination of habitat management, technology and crop planning is beginning to ease the pressure, but for many farmers in Samba’s border villages, the relief cannot come soon enough as the monkey menace continues to threaten both livelihoods and food security.
