Farmers lose around 8,250 metric tonnes of crops worth Nu 171.75 million to wild animals every year

YK Poudel

To curb crop damage by wildlife, particularly monkeys, the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) have launched a community-based human-wildlife conflict (HWC) management project.

This pilot initiative, a component of JICA’s Technical Co-operation Programme (TCP) valued at Nu 120 million, will be implemented by the National Plant Protection Centre (NPPC) between April 2024 and September 2028.

The project will focus on four gewogs—Toewang in Punakha, Rubesa in Wangdue, Kilkhorthang in Tsirang, and Drukjeygang in Dagana.

The priority will be given to chiwogs with existing community fencing in need of improvement. These sites were selected based on a high-ranking HWC hotspot survey, the extent of crop damage caused by wildlife, and the availability of local human resources.

The director of the Department of Agriculture, Yonten Gyamtsho, said that the improvised electric fencing is a mix of metal and electric fences that stands over two-metres above the ground. “Community engagement is crucial to ensure the improvised fencing is designed based on the need in the community,” he said. “It is also crucial that the farmers and the local government take care of the fences to ensure continued effectiveness.”

Annually, farmers in the country on average lose about 8,250 metric tonnes of crops worth Nu 171.75 million to wild animals. This amounts to 28–43 percent of total crop yields, leading to reduced agricultural productivity, low farmer income, increasing fallow land, and labour shortages.

Wild pigs, deer, and monkeys have been identified as the primary culprits, according to the National Impact Assessment report on electric fencing conducted in 2021.

Chief Representative of JICA Bhutan Office Tomoyuki Yamada said that the purpose of this pilot project is to ensure effective HWC mitigation across the country  with community engagement over the years.

The goals include the development of guidelines and mitigation structures for HWC management, capacity building for government officials to promote coexistence with wildlife, the introduction of advanced fencing technology, and the creation of effective conflict mitigation models through field activities at the pilot sites.

JICA, he said, will work on productivity enhancement through agricultural mechanisation, development of irrigation system and farm road management; to enhance marketing programmes, export promotion, market-oriented agriculture and introduction of cash crops.

The project also aligns with Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan, which has allocated Nu 5.1 billion for chain-link fencing across 45,000 acres of farmland.

The Department of Forest and Park Services (DoFPS) along with several other agencies, is working on installation of electric fences and wire mesh fences monitoring and protection of wild animals.

The government’s strategy involves fencing paddy, maize, and potato fields to prevent crop losses. Additionally, JICA will provide training programmes, operational costs, and equipment to support implementation.

This initiative is part of a longstanding partnership between JICA and Bhutan, which began in 1964 and has focused on enhancing agricultural productivity through mechanisation, irrigation development, and farm road construction.

In recent years, the collaboration has shifted toward market-oriented agriculture, cash crop introduction, and export promotion.