Budgam, Apr 27: What should have been a season of hope for farmers in central Kashmir is turning into a nightmare. Across parts of Budgam and Pulwama, repeated attacks by wild boars are destroying freshly sown paddy fields, leaving farmers anxious over heavy losses during the crucial sowing period.
In villages like Wathora, Ropora, Lalgaam, Wagam, and many other areas of Budgam, farmers say the past four to five days have been particularly devastating. Those engaged in sowing paneeri (paddy seedlings) in water-filled fields report that wild boars are entering their land, eating seeds, and uprooting young saplings.
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“We had sown the seeds, but wild boars attack relentlessly and consume or destroy the crop,” said a farmer from Wathora.
For many families, paddy farming is their only source of livelihood. Farmers say the scale of damage is alarming and could have serious consequences.
“If one section of paddy saplings is damaged, it means a loss of hundreds of kilos of rice,” said another farmer. “Our land is already shrinking due to construction and the Semi Ring Road. Now, whatever little we have is being destroyed. If this continues, our children will die of hunger.”
The attacks, locals say, mostly take place at night. As a result, farmers and their families are spending sleepless nights fearing damage to their fields.
“If this continues, we may not be able to sow crops again,” a farmer said.
While the situation has become severe in recent days, locals say the problem is not new. Wild boar attacks have been reported in the region for the past three to four years, but this season has seen a sharp increase, coinciding with the peak sowing period.
Similar incidents have been reported in the past several years in parts of Budgam, Beerwah, Bandipora, and even areas near Srinagar, suggesting a growing pattern of crop destruction across Kashmir.
Apart from Wathora and nearby villages, areas like Ropora and several pockets in Pulwama have also reported similar attacks, raising concerns about a wider agricultural crisis.
Farmers have appealed to the district administration and the Wildlife Department for immediate intervention.
“We are ready to cooperate with the administration. If traps are installed, we will help. But authorities must act now,” a resident of Chadoora said.
Reports trace the presence of wild boars in Kashmir back to the time of Maharaja Gulab Singh, when they were reportedly introduced for hunting and ecological balance. Over time, their numbers declined, and they were rarely seen. However, sightings began re-emerging in the late 2000s, with reports around 2007, 2010, and 2013.
In recent years, their population appears to have increased significantly, leading to frequent incursions into farmlands.
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With the paddy cultivation season at its peak, farmers fear that continued inaction could result in severe crop losses.
