Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 21: An area of 6,757 hectares of agriculture land remained almost uncultivated in Kathua district in Jammu region owing to monkey menace.
A total gross area of 6,757 hectares of agriculture land is monkey infested in Billawar, Bani and Basohli Assembly constituencies in Kathua district of Jammu region, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone said in reply to a question by Jewan Lal in the Legislative Assembly today.
While in Billawar, 1,610 hectares of land remained uncultivated, monkeys cause extensive damage to crops in 1,854 hectares.
In Basohli, 520 hectares of land remained uncultivated while monkeys cause damage to 50 hectares, the reply said. At Bani 2,180 hectares remained uncultivated while 1,220 hectares get damaged due to monkey menace.
Mr Lone said the Agriculture Production Department is generating awareness through its extension agency recommending the cultivation of alternative crops like turmeric, ginger, okra and marigold to reduce the monkey attacks on agriculture crops in the fields vulnerable to damage by monkey menace.
However, the reply said, the Forest and Wildlife Department are responsible for taking measures to prevent the wildlife from moving towards the habitations and damaging crops.
Follow our WhatsApp channel