Farmers in Karnataka have adopted a unique technique to protect their crops from birds and monkeys.

Karnataka farmer adopts a unique technique to protect crops from birds and monkeys, cost-effective; learn more about it. A significant portion of the Indian population still relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Many Indian farmers continue to depend on traditional methods without access to modern techniques, resulting in reduced crop yields. Poor crop yields can be due to various factors, and one challenging issue is the problem of crop damage by birds and animals. Protecting crops from these birds and animals poses a significant threat to successful and healthy crop cultivation.

Traditional methods like using scarecrows are now less effective, and modern solutions such as electrified fences around fields can be expensive for farmers. However, in Karnataka, a coastal region of South Kannada, one farmer has found a highly practical and cost-effective solution to this problem.

Nelson D'Souza, a resident of Pachanadka in the Bantwal taluk of South Kannada, grows rice crops. However, he has been facing continuous attacks on his crops by both birds and monkeys, especially during the harvest season when these animals cause extensive damage to his fields. Nelson came up with a solution—not in a metaphorical sense, but quite literally. He now uses fireworks to create loud explosions in his fields to scare away birds and monkeys. Nelson D'Souza places a firecracker in a half-inch diameter iron pipe and ignites it. As he walks through his fields and spots any sign of intrusion, he detonates the firecracker. The loud noise from the other end of the pipe startles the animals and birds that are causing damage to his crops, and they immediately flee.

This simple but effective technique, involving a mere 50 Rupees for the iron pipe bend and an additional 1 Rupee for the firecracker, has been successful in safeguarding his crops. Nelson has also advised his fellow farmers to use this nearly cost-free technique to protect their fields from stray animals and birds.