Nepal farmers are reporting substantial crop losses from wildlife, with rhesus macaques, wild boars and porcupines among the animals frequently entering agricultural fields.
asserted
farmers → report → fields
A 2026 study by the National Trust for Nature Conservation found that households surveyed across 44 local government areas lost an average of 50.3% of their maize production to wildlife, while maize losses reached up to 90% in Gandaki Province and 88% in Karnali.
asserted
losses → find → Karnali
The government has a relief mechanism for wildlife-related crop damage, but farmers seeking assistance can be required to submit multiple documents and recommendations.
asserted
farmers → have → documents
Recent reporting says the process can involve 12 types of documents, while the maximum relief available for damaged grain or standing crops is Rs 10,000 (NPR), subject to the rules and assessment.
asserted
relief → say → rules
Lawmakers have now called for a national plan to address rising wildlife-related crop losses.
asserted
Lawmakers → call → losses
Nepal farmers’ maize losses reached 90% in Gandaki
asserted
losses → reach → Gandaki
The National Trust for Nature Conservation, with technical support from Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Zoology, surveyed 1,846 households across 44 local government areas in Nepal’s mid-hill regions for its study of problematic wildlife species.
asserted
Trust → survey → species
The research examined rhesus macaques, wild boars and porcupines, along with the economic effects of crop damage.
asserted
research → examine → damage
It found that maize was the most widely cultivated crop and the most heavily raided among those studied.
asserted
maize → find → those
Households reported an average loss of 312 kg of maize a year, equivalent to 50.3% of their production.
asserted
Households → report → production
The study estimated the economic loss from maize at about Rs 2.5 crore among the surveyed households.
asserted
study → estimate → households
The level of damage varied between provinces.
asserted
level → vary → provinces
The study recorded relative maize losses of up to 90% in Gandaki and 88% in Karnali.
asserted
study → record → Karnali
Rice losses reached 85% in Sudurpashchim, while wheat losses there reached 90%.
asserted
losses → reach → %
The figures represent findings from the surveyed areas and are not a nationwide estimate that 90% of Nepal’s maize crop is being destroyed.
asserted
% → represent → crop
Monkeys are the most widely reported crop raiders
asserted
Monkeys → report → ?
Rhesus macaques were the most frequently reported problematic animal in the NTNC survey.
asserted
macaques → report → survey
Some 98% of respondents identified monkeys as a problem, followed by porcupines at 67% and wild boars at 31%.
asserted
% → identify → %
Researchers also identified barking deer as secondary crop raiders, while leopards were reported as a major cause of livestock losses.
asserted
leopards → identify → losses
Researchers directly counted 20,395 rhesus macaques in the 44 local government areas included in the study.
asserted
Researchers → count → study
They estimated that at least 104,137 rhesus macaques live across Nepal’s mid-hill region.
asserted
macaques → estimate → region
Some troops recorded during the research contained as many as 198 animals.
asserted
troops → record → animals
The wildlife involved also varies by region.
asserted
wildlife → involve → region
The parliamentary motion filed in August said crop damage from monkeys, wild boars and porcupines was particularly severe in Bagmati, Gandaki and Sudurpashchim.
asserted
damage → file → Bagmati
Farmers in Koshi have reported damage mainly from monkeys and elephants, while communities in parts of Lumbini and Madhesh have faced damage from monkeys and nilgai, also known as blue bulls.
asserted
communities → report → bulls
Image: AP
Farmers can apply for government relief
asserted
Farmers → apply → relief
Nepal has a government mechanism for providing relief for damage caused by specified wildlife species.
asserted
Nepal → have → species
The current relief distribution framework has been in effect since July 2023 and covers 16 wildlife species, including monkeys and blue bulls, alongside species already covered under the earlier provisions.
asserted
framework → cover → provisions
For wildlife-damage claims, farmers may have to provide multiple documents and recommendations.
uncertain
farmers → have → documents
Recent reporting says the process can involve 12 types of documents.
asserted
process → say → documents
The documents and recommendations can include:
- Application from the victim or claimant
- Photographs of the damaged site or affected person
- Damage-assessment or site-verification report, known as a Sarjamin Muchulka
- Recommendation from the local ward office
- Recommendation from the relevant agriculture or veterinary office
-
asserted
documents → include → office
- Post-mortem report, where applicable
- Police report, where applicable
- Relationship certificate with a deceased victim, where applicable
The documents required depend on the type of wildlife-damage claim.
uncertain
documents → require → claim
Not all of the documents listed above apply to every case.
asserted
all → list → case
Crop-damage relief is capped at Rs 10,000
asserted
relief → cap → 10,000
The wildlife-damage relief guidelines provide a maximum of Rs 10,000 for damaged grain, based on an assessment of the loss.
asserted
guidelines → provide → loss
For standing crops, the maximum relief is also Rs 10,000, with the payment limited to once per seasonal crop.
asserted
payment → stand → crop
An individual can receive crop-related relief no more than twice a year.
asserted
individual → receive → relief
The guidelines provide relief rather than automatic reimbursement of the full value of a crop loss.
asserted
guidelines → provide → loss
The amount paid in an individual case depends on the assessment and the conditions specified in the relief framework.
asserted
amount → pay → framework
Land ownership is part of the eligibility rules
The relief guidelines state that authorities can provide relief when wildlife damages crops planted on land with proper ownership documents.
asserted
wildlife → state → documents
…and 39 more, not listed.
The Aporia
