The ripe Aman paddy in the flat lands of the Garo Hills in Nalitabari, Jhinaigati, and Sribordi upazilas is being destroyed by wild elephants.
Every night, herds of elephants descend from the hills, destroying the paddy fields by eating and trampling the crops. Farmers are helpless and vulnerable as they cannot do anything against wild elephants. They stay awake at night trying to protect their crops but fail.
Local sources said the Aman paddy harvesting in the hilly areas is set to begin in full swing within two weeks. However, these wild elephants are destroying the crops. For the past seven days, around fifty elephants have taken up residence in the Daldoma hills near the India-Bangladesh border.
As night falls, the elephant herds split into several groups and go on a rampage in the paddy fields of the Panihata area of Nalitabari through the Marang Gof and Talatola areas. Over the past week, the elephants have devastated about twenty acres of both ripe and unripe aman paddy fields of 15 to 20 farmers in Andharupara, Khalchanda and Pahari Gof hills near BGB camp, Panihata and Fekamari area in Madhutila, and Gopalpur range of Nalitabari upazila forest division.
Local farmer Jupoti Kochoni of Khalchanda village said the wild elephants have destroyed the rice on my 41 decimals of lands. I would have been able to harvest the rice in just a few days. The elephants have completely destroyed the crops.
Other villagers Durjoy Koch and Kanai Koch said their one-acre rice fields were also ruined by the elephants. They further said earlier, the elephant used to be scared of fire. Now these wild elephants get more aggressive if they see the fire.
Affected farmers in Panihata village mentioned that the elephants come down to the fields due to a lack of food in the hills. They worry that once the crops are depleted, the elephants will break into their houses for food. In the past, when elephant attacked, the government would provide oil for torches to drive them away. But now no one comes forward to help.
Rafiqul Islam, Forrest Ranger of Mymensingh Forest Department Madhutila Forrest Range, said I have received reports about Aman paddy in eight acres of lands being destroyed by wild elephants in my area, along with Aman paddy in 10 to 12 acres of land in the Gopalpur beat. To minimize crop damage, we are working in the field with the elephant response team and have urged affected farmers to apply for assistance using the designated form from the forest department.
