For generations, farmers in Nepal’s mid-hills have transformed steep Himalayan slopes into productive farmland by building terraces that hold soil and water in place. But today, many of these communities are facing a growing challenge from wildlife, particularly rhesus macaques that increasingly enter farms and feed on crops.
Maize, millet, rice, potatoes and legumes form an important part of household food supplies and rural incomes. When troops of macaques enter cultivated fields, they can destroy a significant portion of a harvest in a short period. Wild boars and Indian crested porcupines are also contributing to crop losses in several areas.
