Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Measures Adopted by the Farmers of Telangana, India

Abstract

Mitigation of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in agricultural regions depends not only on awareness but also on the accessibility and effectiveness of available technologies. This study assessed the adoption patterns of HWC mitigation measures among farmers in Telangana. A total of 300 respondents were selected using a purposive sampling method from conflict-prone districts one mandal from each district and 5 villages from each mandal and 20 farmers from each village those who have experienced crop damage by wildlife conflict across three Agro-climatic zones. Data were collected through pretested and structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage and class interval method. The findings revealed that although various mitigation measures- such as scare devices, guarding, and noise devices were completely adopted, most were perceived as only partially effective. High cost but more reliable tools like solar fencing and monkey guns etc. were partially adopted due to lack of awareness, financial constraints and limited institutional support. The mitigation measures like human hair collected from local barber shops, placing dried cakes made from dung of local pigs burnt by placing them in earthen pots around the field etc have adopted rarely. Despite the availability of these strategies, adoption remains limited, often due to multiple constraints. These include high installation and maintenance costs (as in the case of solar fencing), lack of awareness, insufficient government subsidies, and a general mistrust in the long-term efficacy of introduced solutions. Many farmers revert to traditional deterrents such as scarecrows, loudspeakers, or community guarding, not necessarily because they are effective, but because they are culturally familiar, low-cost, and require minimal external support. The results suggest a pressing need for promoting affordable, scientifically validated technologies and improving policy-level support to ensure that effective conflict mitigation tools are both available and accessible to smallholder farmers.