Jammu, April 4 The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it is implementing a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy to address the damage caused by porcupines to the saffron crop in Pampore, with field evidence confirming the presence of the species in the region.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by National Conference MLA Hasnain Masoodi in the Assembly, Forest Minister Javed Ahmad Rana said that habitat conditions such as caves, crevices, hilly terrains, and overgrown private lands provide a favorable shelter for porcupines near the saffron-growing areas in the south Kashmir town.
To mitigate the problem, the government has proposed a series of measures, including clearing caves, bushes, and undergrowth in coordination with the revenue department and the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the minister said.
The measures also include installing deep-set mesh barriers (up to 1.5 metres underground) around vulnerable fields, protecting orchard trees using aluminum wrapping and reflective coatings, planting naturally repellent species such as iris, wormwood, and wild yam, using organic repellents and olfactory deterrents like naphthalene, and deploying motion-activated lighting and sound systems, he said.
The minister also said that the agriculture department, in collaboration with the Saffron Research Station, Pampore, is documenting the extent of damage to develop long-term scientific management strategies.
A dedicated control room for man-animal conflict has been established at nearby Khrew in Pulwama district, along with regular night patrolling, installation of capture cages for live trapping, and awareness campaigns for farmers, the minister said.
On monkey intrusion in agricultural fields at Wahab Sahib in Pampore, the minister said that while monkeys are currently not listed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, awareness initiatives are being undertaken, and firecrackers are being distributed to farmers as a deterrent.
He said that a coordinated, time-bound action plan involving the agriculture, revenue, and wildlife departments, along with local communities, is being formulated to address the issue through field protection, habitat management, and long-term population control.