December 11: For the first time this year, the farmers of Berti Village in Zhemgang were able to harvest their paddy without loss due to wild animals. This has been made possible with the introduction of a boar repellent technology.

Farmers of Berti Village in Zhemgang have been suffering losses of their paddy harvest to wild boars. Maize and paddy are the main crops grown in this village. But for the first time this year farmers were able to harvest their entire yield without any loss or damage caused by wild animals.

An indigenous technology developed by the Deputy Director of the Paro National Post Harvest Center Pema Drakpa has been successful in keeping the wild boars at bay. The machines were used in the village on a trial basis.

The Trong Gup Dorji Wangdi said it has helped farmers to protect crops from wild boars.

The machine operates on electricity. When switched on, a powerful Halogen Flood Light attached to the machine glows and rotates. The machine also produces a shrill noise. Pema Drakpa, the man behind this machine said the idea of developing the machine was based on the traditional method of chasing away wild boars and animals by beating drums and tins.

This project was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and funded by WWF.