Upland farmers in Kozhikode seek Forest department’s intervention to strengthen rapid response team

Upland farmers who recently suffered major crop losses due to wild animal attacks in the rural areas of Kozhikode district have urged the Forest department to better equip the rapid response teams (RRTs) for effective preventive action.

They also raised the demand with local administrators who are likely to convene panchayat-level meetings soon in the presence of Forest department officers to discuss the requirements. 

“At the very least, there should be a district-level helpline to ensure quick action. We never get a prompt response from any Forest department office during emergencies. Though they promise swift action, delays in arrival are still the reality,” said a farm owner from Koorachundu panchayat,  where wild animal threats have already disrupted the livelihoods of several farmers.

He added that local farmers’ forums from villages such as Chakkittappara, Kavilumpara, Peruvannamuzhi, Chempanoda, Muthukad, Kakkayam, and Koorachundu had already raised the same demand, which should be addressed with a compassionate approach.

P. Sebastian, a farmer from Kavilumpara panchayat, said the delayed arrival of the RRT at Choorani near Thottilpalam, where a wild elephant calf had recently strayed into a human settlement, caused significant distress to the villagers. He also alleged that some officers responsible for decision-making were unaware of their jurisdictional limits, further delaying the response.

Meanwhile, local administrators from Koorachundu panchayat said the demands recently raised by a section of farmers had already been brought to the attention of the Forest department for prompt action. They added that, in addition to this, requests had also been submitted to erect power fences around vulnerable areas and to resolve technical hurdles in sanctioning gun licences for farmers in need.

Forest department sources said proposals to strengthen RRTs by deploying more personnel in vulnerable areas had already been forwarded for the consideration of higher authorities. They also claimed that the number of wildlife watchers had been increased in several affected locations in response to complaints from farmers.