Monkeys force Nepal farmers to switch crops

Farmers in Rayadanda, Nepal, are abandoning traditional crops like maize and wheat due to relentless damage by monkeys, forcing them to seek alternative agricultural strategies. For the past three years, residents of ward 11 of Baglung Municipality have experimented with different farming methods to mitigate their losses.

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This is a pilot project. If it proves successful, we will expand Akabare cultivation across the entire ward next year. The municipality and Heifer International will support farmers in marketing their produce.

This year, the focus has shifted to cultivating ginger and Akabare chilli, also known as fireball cherry pepper. Ward Chairman Gyanendra Gautam highlighted this as a pilot project, stating that 40,000 chilli saplings have already been planted. If this initiative proves successful, the municipality plans to expand Akabare chilli cultivation across the entire ward next year, with support from the municipality and Heifer International for marketing.

While some farmers had previously turned to goat rearing, the shift towards commercial agriculture with ginger and Akabare chilli is driven by the potential for higher returns and suitability to the local climate. Farmers are hopeful that these new crops will be less susceptible to monkey predation. Mustard greens have also shown some resilience, with monkeys so far avoiding them.

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Monkeys have not eaten the mustard greens so far. We are hopeful that we can protect the chillies and ginger as well.

Previous attempts at vegetable farming using high-tech tunnels were unsuccessful due to monkey intrusion. The current strategy involves cultivating Akabare chillies within these structures. The initiative has engaged 75 farmers in the first phase, with agricultural technician Raju Gautam noting the crop's high return potential and low investment requirements. Dairy farming is also being explored by some farmers as a reliable income source unaffected by wildlife.

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This crop offers high returns with relatively low investment, and the local climate is highly suitable. Most importantly, farmers no longer have to worry about monkeys destroying their crops.