UP govt for solar fencing to protect crops from animals

Lucknow The Uttar Pradesh government is working on a scheme to install solar fencing around the fields of farmers to protect their crops from stray cattle. A team of agriculture department would be visiting Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where solar fencing is working as an effective defence against stray cattle. Stray cattle menace was one of important issues in UP state polls last year following which the ruling party had promised to find a solution to it. The specialty of this scheme will be that both animals and crops will be safe.

Solar fencing keeps away animals without harming them by using 12 volts current which is neither harmful to them nor humans. Its shock will just have a psychological effect on animals. Apart from this, a siren goes off as soon as an animal touches the fence. Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Devesh Chaturvedi said, "Farmers of the state are very worried due to stray animals, especially Nilgai. They cause harm to crops. To save farmers' fields from stray animals, the UP government has brought in 'Mukhyamantri Khet Suraksha Yojana'." Nilgai is a big and powerful animal. Male nilgai is as tall as a horse. It causes a lot of damage to crops. Chaturvedi said, "Farmers of Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh are benefiting from such scheme. Our officials are examining this ongoing scheme in these states.