BHUBANESWAR: The serial death of peacocks in Ganjam’s Aska, which is known for the community conservation practices, has prompted the Forest Department to take up awareness about bio-safety measures among the farmers, something the Agriculture Department is supposed to do. Concerned over the death of the national birds, the Wildlife Wing of the State is planning to publicise the use of anti-bird nets among the cultivators. The nets are part of subsidy schemes of the Government and can come in handy in conservation of the protected species. At least 13 peacocks died in Kerikerijola village, located close to Pakidi Hills of Aska, after consuming pesticides used by an Andhra-based farmer. The incident had happened even as the State was celebrating the Wildlife Week.“Use of such nets by the farmers will be a win-win situation for the farmers in the area since they come at affordable rates with a 75 per cent subsidy. Such precautionary measures must be adopted in case of high-yielding crops and cash crops for which farmers use pesticides,” Chief Wildlife Warden JD Sharma said. He had earlier served as Horticulture director. The fact, however, remains that it is the job of the Agriculture Department to spread the word among farmers about bio-safety measures. G Sambasiva Rao, the farmer in question at Kerikerijola, had applied a pesticide called ‘Atom’ in 60-odd acre land which he had taken on lease from the local villagers for Bt Cotton farming. Sharma felt that use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides could serve the purpose and the Department will make efforts to sensitise the farmers about it. “Not only do bio-fertilisers maintain fertility, the practice also reduces water consumption which ultimately will benefit the farmers. This is something we want to campaign in the sensitive area,” he added. To increase yield of Bt crops, farmers resort to scientific farming and use of chemicals and pesticides and Rao is believed to have done that. “We are ascertaining if his use of pesticide was deliberate or a coincidence. We are waiting for the DFO’s report on the matter,” the Chief Wildlife Warden said. A local conservationist Samir Pradhan, who was conferred the Biju Patnaik Award by the State Government in 2005-06 for excellent work on protection of the national bird, had expressed apprehensions that the number of affected peacocks could be more since a large number of birds fed on the crops.
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