Alakode: To protect his tuber crops from frequent wild pig raids, Virakodiyanal Tomy of Kotakadavu, Manatti in Chapparapadavu has built a tree-top hut on his farm, where he keeps night vigil to save his harvest.

Perched at a height of around 12 feet, the hut was constructed single-handedly by Tomy to safeguard his crops of tapioca, yam, taro roots, purple yam, Chinese potato, and sesame. For the past four years, Tomy has been spending his nights up there, watching over his fields from 10 pm to 3 am

According to Tomy, wild pig raids are most frequent during these hours, especially when the crops near harvest. Each season, he sets up his makeshift watch post before the raids begin. Despite his efforts, wild pigs have already destroyed about 15 yam and taro root plants this time.

Tomy laments that even though such animal attacks cause severe losses to farmers, he has received no assistance from the panchayat. He continues to cultivate his crops alone on a two-acre plot, which was offered to him by another individual for farming free of cost.