Kerala doubles compensation for wildlife attacks and crop damage

Kerala’s government has decided to double compensation for deaths and crop damage caused by wildlife attacks, Forest and Wildlife Minister Shibu Baby John said on Tuesday. Speaking at a state-level conclave on farmer safety and human-wildlife conflict in Kozhikode, John said the decision followed discussions with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Agriculture Minister T.

Siddique. Under the revised rates, compensation will be ₹15 for each coconut destroyed by monkeys and other wild animals, and ₹30 for each cocoa plant, the minister said. He also promised measures to prevent delays in paying compensation for crop losses.

John said wildlife conflict would not be treated as the sole responsibility of the Forest department. The Agriculture and Revenue departments would participate in a coordinated response, combining local experience with technology to protect farmers’ lives and property. The government’s strategy would have three elements: containment, mitigation and compensation.

High-conflict areas and 55 priority grama panchayats have been identified, where multi-layered protection systems will be established. The state also plans a pilot project to provide additional income to farmers living near forests through homestays and backpacking linked to ecotourism. It will promote crops considered less vulnerable to wildlife damage, including high-curcumin turmeric.

Siddique said farmers’ homes and agricultural land would not be included in Eco-Sensitive Areas. The state also plans to use artificial intelligence, remote sensing, camera-based monitoring and early-warning systems. John said land acquisition under ecological classifications would not proceed without eligible compensation and fair land valuation.