Panaji: The Goa government will soon take a final call on the issue of vermin species destroying crops in hinterland regions of the coastal state, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai told the Assembly on Monday.
Replying to a question on damage to agricultural crops, Mr. Sardesai said that monkeys damaging the crops was a matter of concern and was discouraging farmers from raising crops.
“I think the government is on its way to take a conclusive step with it. The Forest (Minister) and Chief Minister have thought about it. Something preventive needs to be done,” Mr. Sardesai said, in response to a question by Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar.
“Even if you use good varieties for yield, monkeys finish the crop beforehand. Support price is not a solution. It is a big issue in rural areas,” Mr. Sardesai said.
Over the last few months, the Forest Department had been undertaking surveys of damage to agricultural crops and the recommendation made by the State Wildlife Board to declare the wild boar as vermin.
Wild boars and monkeys are common in the hinterland of the coastal state, a large part of which come under the Western Ghats.
In the past, then Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar had even called for declaring the national bird peacock, and the state animal Indian Bison as vermin.
After public outrage, he had to pull back from the move.
