Nadavayal: When wild elephants ravage their fields, farmers usually frown at forest officials. For a change, they decided to work together at Neykuppa in Wayanad on Sunday. The forest department staff of Chethalath Range in the South Wayanad Forest division and the farmers of Neykkuppa toiled together for an entire day in the jungle borders to complete a 2.5 km long temporary hanging fence to save their crops.

Braving showers, around 40 farmers joined hands in the mission with a team of VSS (Vana Samrakshana Samithi) volunteers and forest department staff. The initiative was part of the 'Mission Fencing Programme' of the forest department, which aims to ensure protection for crops in areas that face recurring wildlife attacks.

According to South Wayanad DFO Ajit K. Raman, the first phase of the temporary fencing, with people's participation, was constructed between Kakkodan Block and Manalvayal, covering a distance of 1.5 km. Ajit K Raman said that the farming community of the region was inspired by the results of the pilot project, which had provided a huge relief to farmers living near the forest zones.

"Though a major project was on cards with crash guard fencing, this immediate venture is to save the crops as well as the farmers, from wildlife attacks," officials said.

The farmers are hopeful that their efforts will save crops this season. "We have to come up with quick solutions for imminent threats, as the regular projects would materialise only in the long run," said Jose Mathew Vadakkancheryl, a farmer.