Tiruvallur farmer develops bio-fence to prevent wild boars from damaging crops

The Hindu

2 days ago

A farmer of Pudhupattu village in Kadambattur block of Tiruvallur district has developed a three-layer bio fence to keep out wild boars — a menace in his area.
Ganesh Pranav, who went completely organic 10 years ago, says the 3-metre-wide fence with three layers has now become a good source of income for him. 'Paddy is my main crop. Farmers in our area usually go for the regular pole and wire fence. However, I did not opt for it since it is not very effective and has to be newly installed. Instead, I thought of what I could do to create a natural barrier, and decided to read up on what will be beneficial to me and nature,' he says.
Three-layer protection
'The outer-most layer has cactus, aloe vera and thorny plants such as the Sudan thorn. For the first three years I used a fish net with small holes. This was until the plants grew. Then I planted coconut palms, banana saplings, African mahogany, andOdhiyan trees, which are sturdy and grow from cuttings, as the last layer. Bamboo too found a place to help anchor the banana and mahogany,' he added.
'The produce from banana plants and coconut trees is much more than paddy, and the micro biosphere helps my crops. Meanwhile, the pests are kept at bay by friendly insects,' Mr. Pranav further said.
He has been showing his farm to those interested in learning to create the bio-shield that also acts as a barrier against winds.
Collector's visit
District Collector M. Prathap, who visited the village, said it was impressive to see the farmer using a natural shield against wild boars and pests.
'It should be replicated in other areas where boars are a menace. The fence that he has created also gives him an income, which makes it an excellent idea,' he said.