Farmers Attain Benefits From Lemon Fence, Averts Elephant From Farms

From the recent survey of the pilot project in Sivasagar district, it has been revealed that the application of bio-fence-yielding lemons could help to keep off the elephants and save the farmer's crops in Assam.

Many strategies have been executed to prevent elephants from the farm sites. Over the years different approaches have been applied across Assam’s human-elephant conflict (HEC) hotspots. They include the application of audio systems to create bee buzzing noise hurling chili bombs, and setting up an electric fence to attain maximum growth of crops. Also, strategies included growing crops in elephant corridors which animals enjoy so that they would avoid entering farm sites.

This bio fence yielding lemons has been found very effective. Not only does it avert the elephants but an effective source of increasing farm incomes. A very affordable technique that would help farmers to attain quality crops and boost their yield.

Farmers in Soraguri Chapori on the bank of the Brahmaputra river found the pilot project very effective.

Nitul Das who owns a farmstead told that “these lemon fences have helped not only maintain their farmsteads, not only prevent their yield from wild animals but also provide additional income per month”.

He also told that Lemon fence has helped him earn ₹8,000 per month.

Niranjan Bhuyan, directing Aaranyak’s bio-fence pilot project stated that to execute this idea firstly the farmers were made understood and trained. Farmers were provided lemon saplings and told to sow them in three rows around their farmsteads. Those who accepted this project have procured benefits from the lemon fences, prevent elephants, and attained profits by a huge margin, he said.

Aranyak senior scientist Bibhuti Lahkar said that “they have also provided alternative crops like wild turmeric, taro roots, and lemon grass to people living in HEC areas, this has been done after two years of rigorous experimentation. They have encouraged farmers to produce crops less delectable to the animals”.

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