Nilgiris Farmers Use These Cut-outs To Ward Off Wild Animals

Farmers in the picturesque Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, known for its sprawling tea plantations and agricultural lands, are adopting innovative measures to protect their crops from the frequent incursions of wild animals. Faced with the challenge of wildlife damaging their fields, mountain vegetable farmers have resorted to placing man-shaped cut-outs in strategic locations across their agricultural lands.

These life-size cut-outs, depicting a farmer ready for harvesting with a machete in hand, serve a dual purpose. Crafted from iron, they not only create the illusion of human presence in the fields but also act as a deterrent to wild animals. The farmers believe that the mere sight of these man-shaped figures engaged in farming activities will dissuade the animals from entering the land and causing damage to the crops.

The Nilgiris district, surrounded by lush forest areas, witnesses frequent movements of wild animals, posing a threat to the agricultural livelihoods of the local communities. The initiative of employing man-shaped cut-outs started two years ago, and according to the farmers, it has proven effective in reducing the damage caused by cattle and wild animals.

Speaking to Local 18, a farmer emphasized the success of the approach, urging fellow farmers to adopt this technique to safeguard their farmlands. The cut-outs, strategically placed across the agricultural landscape, create an optical illusion of human activity, making the wild animals hesitant to approach.

The Nilgiris district is vital for the livelihoods of numerous villages dependent on agriculture, with a substantial focus on tea cultivation. Despite a successful crop yield last year due to abundant rainfall, farmers faced challenges from deer and wild boars that inflicted damage on crops such as millets, paddy, and maize.

Farmers in affected regions, including Erode, Perambalur, and Nilgiris, have raised concerns about wildlife intrusion, leading to the destruction of their hard-earned crops. In response, they have sought assistance from the forest department to implement electric fencing around their farms, providing an additional layer of protection against wild animals.