Stray cattle and wild boars threaten Odisha paddy cultivation
Rising input costs and animal menace are forcing farmers in Odisha to reduce the area under paddy cultivation, according to Telegraph India.
Stray cattle and wild boars are threatening paddy production in Odisha as farmers face rising input costs, according to a report by Telegraph India. The menace has led many farmers to reduce their cultivated areas this year.
Data from the All India Crop Area Coverage Report released by the Union ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare shows that paddy cultivation as of August 14, 2026, stood at 379.07 lakh hectares. This is a decline of 14.37 lakh hectares compared to 393.44 lakh hectares during the same period in 2025. Odisha reported one of the sharpest declines with a reduction of 2.09 lakh hectares.
In Kapileswarpur village of Puri district, farmer Vidyadhara Barik said he reduced his cultivation from two acres last year to one acre this year. Barik stated that he stays awake until 3am to guard crops from cattle and suggested the government should facilitate the sale and transportation of cows or run proper gaushalas.
Farmer Harihara Nayak from Kesakera village said the problem of stray cattle increased after cattle traders were attacked by vigilante groups, leading people to abandon old cows. He noted that the weekly market in Sakhigopal, where traders used to operate, was discontinued around 2021.
In Bilakankuda village, farmer Khetrabasi Pradhan said wild boars and monkeys are also damaging crops. Pradhan noted that wild animals have entered villages following the clearing of coastal forests in the Sipasarubali area for a proposed airport.
Rising costs for fertilisers are also impacting farmers. In Ganjam district, farmer Sudama Gouda said the price of a 50kg bag of urea rose from ₹ 320 last year to ₹ 720 this year, while Gromor prices increased by 50 per cent from ₹ 1,800.