Elephant threat at Muthappanpuzha farmlands

The agricultural hamlet is home to 200 settler farmers

Muthappanpuzha, a small agricultural hamlet of settler farmers in the hillside of Thiruvambadi panchayat, is falling into the grip of frequent wild elephant attacks with government funding for solar fencing getting delayed.

Over 200 families, most of them depending on the meagre income from the agriculture sector, are living under the threat of wild elephants.

Farmers say that the agriculture land here is open to wild animals, as it is surrounded by forest from three sides. Only some areas sharing borders with Iruvanjippuzha are free from the elephant menace, they say.

Till very recently, only farmlands with plantain trees attracted elephant herds. However, with a fall in the cultivation of plantain trees, the elephants have started destroying coconut trees also. Other than the farmlands, the small town at Muthappanpuzha, which is close to the Vellarimala forest regions, is also under the threat. The animals are being increasingly spotted by people here recently.

“Over 15 agrarian families have suffered huge loss in the recent attack of wild elephants destroying coconut trees and plantain farm. Nearly four kilometre stretch of Muthappanpuzha now remains open for the wild elephants without the guard of electric fences,” says Tomy Konnakkal, a farmer from the region.

He also says that some of the farmers have managed to set up electric fences on their own, but the majority remains helpless.

Solar fencing

The Thiruvambadi grama panchayat authorities, who have already placed the issue before the State government, say the solar fencing works in the areas shown by the farmers could be completed with an investment of Rs.5 lakh. “We have forwarded the proposals to all the government departments concerned, including the Forest. The release of the fund is a must to help the already irate farmers,” says Eliyamma George, president of the Thiruvambadi panchayat.

Noticing the increasing protest on the part of the farmers, the District Development Committee (DDC) also has taken up the issue and directed the Forest Department to find out a feasible solution.

The issue was also discussed in detail at the DDC meeting following a resolution moved by Thiruvambadi MLA C. Moyinkutty.