Stray cattle, monkey menace force farmers leave agriculture in Kangra

Hundreds of acres of agricultural land were rendered barren in Kangra as farmers abandoned farming due to stray cattle and monkey threats. Farmers in Palampur and surrounding areas guarded crops day and night, while more than 12 farmers in Arla village stated they faced this issue for five years without assistance after lodging complaints. Navneet Sood, former Joint Director of Agriculture, stated that stray cattle and monkeys destroy crops valued between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 2,000 crore annually across the state. Suresh Kumar, a farmer from Sullah, stated that farmers agitated for five years and delivered memorandums to Deputy Commissioners and the Chief Minister without receiving a response, claiming the stray animal population multiplied nearly fourfold over three years. Over 12 fatalities occurred on highways from road accidents involving stray animals, while the state government collected more than Rs 100 crore over two years through a cow cess of Rs 10 on liquor bottles to rehabilitate stray cattle and safeguard crops. Farmers questioned why funds remained unused while animals continued roaming freely, threatening rural livelihoods and public safety.