Monkey Guards Hired to Protect Crops in Nepal’s Argakhanchi District

Twenty-six monkey guards have been appointed in Nepal’s Argakhanchi district to protect crops from marauding monkeys. The Division Forest Office in Argakhanchi says the move aims to reduce the problems faced by farmers due to the increasing monkey menace in the area.

The newly appointed monkey guards will be deployed in different parts of the district for two months. They will be responsible for safely chasing away monkeys that enter agricultural land and coordinating with local farmers to minimize crop damage.

According to the Division Forest Office, the monkey guards were selected from 64 applicants based on their age, recommendations from the local ward office, and their ability to work in the affected areas. Each guard will receive a monthly salary of 12,500 rupees.

The main responsibility of the monkey guards will be to protect crops such as maize, wheat, vegetables, and fruits from monkey damage. The program is expected to reduce the losses incurred by farmers due to monkey attacks.

Local farmers have been complaining about the increasing number of monkeys in the area, which has resulted in significant crop damage. Some farmers have even been forced to stay in their fields day and night to protect their crops.

The appointment of monkey guards is seen as a positive move by the local community. However, farmers are also demanding long-term solutions to the problem, including compensation for crop damage and the implementation of effective measures to manage the monkey population.

The Division Forest Office says the program is a temporary measure to provide relief to farmers and will be evaluated for its effectiveness. Further plans will be implemented as needed in the future.