‘Let people eat wild boar meat’: Kerala minister’s remark on crop damage sparks debate

Alappuzha: The issue of wild boars damaging crops has become a major concern for farmers in Kerala, particularly in rural and hilly regions. The animals often raid farmlands, destroying paddy, banana, and tuber crops, leading to significant financial losses.

Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad has proposed that consuming wild boar meat could serve as an effective measure to tackle the increasing destruction of crops by wild boars across the state. Speaking at a programme organised by the Paalamel village panchayat in Alappuzha district, Prasad argued that allowing people to eat the meat of wild boars killed in agricultural fields could help resolve the issue faster.

“The existing central law does not permit it. In my opinion, people should be allowed to eat the meat of wild boars killed in agricultural fields,” Prasad said. He added that granting such permission would incentivise people to control the population of wild boars, which have been causing extensive damage to farmlands.

Prasad also emphasised that the wild boar is not an endangered species, suggesting that such a move would not pose a threat to wildlife conservation.

His remarks come shortly after the Kerala Assembly passed a bill amending the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, with the aim of addressing the rising incidents of human-animal conflict in the state.
(With PTI inputs)