Authorities at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute and the TNAU Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women have been hit by the peacock menace as agricultural fields inside the institutions are being damaged by the peacocks and peahens.
Scientists of the college told The Hindu on Tuesday that various crops raised on the fields are being damaged by the peacocks and peahens. “Worst hit are the research departments whose crops are instantly destroyed. The menace is being witnessed in the last couple of years due to urbanisation and industrialisation of the Viralimalai area where a large number of peacocks are found,” says P. Pandiyarajan, Dean of the Institute. The green gram and black gram crops are much to the liking of the birds.
Farmers said that poor rainfall in Pudukottai district, especially in Viralimalai region, has resulted in the migration of the birds to adjoining fertile fields.
