𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐠

…𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔

By Kezang Choden

Farmers in several gewogs of Samtse Dzongkhag are facing increasing challenges from wildlife conflict, which has become a serious concern for the region. Gewogs including Yoeseltse, Samtse, Namgyelcholing, and Tashicholing have seen frequent crop damage caused by wild animals, forcing many farmers to leave large areas of farmland uncultivated. Agriculture remains the primary source of income for these communities, with paddy, maize, and cash crops being the main cultivations. However, the growing problem of crop raids by animals such as wild boars, elephants, and deer has made farming less sustainable, leading to declining interest in agricultural work.

Local farmers report that despite their efforts to protect their crops, much of the harvest is destroyed by wildlife, leaving fields barren. This situation has contributed to an increase in “Gungtong,” or empty households, where families have left their villages in search of better opportunities. According to local records, Yoeseltse Gewog has eight empty households out of 638 total, Samtse Gewog has nine out of 200, and Namgyelcholing Gewog has 25 out of 595 households. Tashicholing Gewog, which has the highest number of households at 1,100, has not reported any empty households so far.

Local leaders and farmers are urging for immediate action, including the installation of wildlife fencing, compensation programs for crop damage, and awareness initiatives. They warn that without timely intervention, agricultural activity will continue to decline, further affecting the region’s economy and food security.

Rinchen Gyeltshen, the Mangmi of Yoeseltse Gewog, expressed concern over the growing number of uncultivated farmlands caused by persistent wildlife conflict. He said several plots have remained barren for nearly three years because farmers have lost the motivation to continue farming. “To support the farmers and revive agriculture in the gewog, we have submitted a proposal for electric fencing,” said Rinchen Gyeltshen. He stressed that most farmers depend heavily on paddy cultivation and that the damage caused by wild animals has become a major obstacle to sustaining this way of life. “While the community is willing to work hard, the constant damage during the growing season has left many families disheartened. Without immediate intervention, the problem will worsen and could lead to food insecurity and economic hardship,” he added.

Kinley, a resident of Samtse Gewog, described how the recurring destruction of crops has forced his family to depend on imported rice. “There was a time when I did not need to buy rice because I could grow enough for my family,” he said. “But now the wild animals destroy our fields, and we are left helpless. We try to chase them away, but it does not work. After seeing this happen repeatedly, I gave up.” Kinley has not cultivated paddy on his land for nearly six years despite his willingness to farm. “The pain of watching your hard work destroyed in minutes is beyond words,” he said.

“Many farmers face the same problem. The land lies barren, and we are losing hope.” He warned that the issue threatens food security and income while contributing to rural-urban migration and a decline in farming practices.
Ram Chandra Rai, Mangmi of Namgyelcholing Gewog, warned that if wildlife interference continues, farmers may lose all hope of continuing agricultural work. “Most residents depend on cash crops for their livelihoods, but increasing threats from wild animals discourage them from working in the fields,” he said. He explained that wild boars, monkeys, elephants, and deer raid crops at night or early morning, destroying what farmers have sown. “Many are not even able to harvest their crops. Their hard work is destroyed right before their eyes,” he added. Ram Chandra Rai urged for timely measures such as electric fencing and other solutions to restore farmers’ confidence and sustain agriculture in the gewog.

Nima Dorji, Mangmi of Tashicholing Gewog, said human-wildlife conflict is not a new problem in the region. “Wild animals have damaged crops for many years, leaving farmers discouraged and helpless,” he said. Despite efforts to cultivate crops, the presence of wild animals—especially elephants—remains a serious threat to productivity. Chain-link fencing has been installed in parts of the gewog, but it provides limited protection. “The fencing can stop smaller animals, but when elephants come, they break through and destroy everything,” he said.

Farmers across Samtse Dzongkhag depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, growing maize, paddy, vegetables, and cash crops. However, frequent crop raids by wild animals have led many to abandon farming, leaving land fallow. The Mangmis and villagers have called on authorities to take stronger action to protect farms. They warned that without more effective fencing or alternative measures, more farmland will be lost, threatening food security and local incomes. The issue of human-wildlife conflict remains a significant challenge in several gewogs, and communities are seeking urgent support to protect their livelihoods and revive agricultural activity.