Cashew nut from elephant dung; farmers following elephant get up to 200 kg

KANNUR: The farmers said the economic security of Aralam Farm is decreasing due to the attacks by wild elephants. The farmers complain that the forest department officials are not taking action despite the increase in the destruction of agricultural crops by wild elephants. They said that 10 to 20 wild elephants arrive every day to destroy the crops of the farms.

Aralam Farm's financial security depends on the cashew crop. However, now there is no need to go to the plantation to collect cashews. All you have to do is follow the way the elephant has passed to recover the nuts from the elephant’s dun where they have dropped. This is the present situation. Up to two and a half kilograms of cashews are obtained from elephant’s dung. The wild elephants that stay in the farm shake the cashew trees and then eat the cashew fruit along with the nuts.

With this, those collecting cashew nuts, go in search of it on the way the elephant has passed. A wild elephant eats up to 200 kg of cashew nuts per day. The forest department officials are taking this lightly. They are not taking any action to chase the elephant, the farmers told High Vision.

‘There are things in the farm for the elephants to eat. After cashews, their eyes will be on the coconut and this situation continues. The reason for the crops in the farm to destroy is the negligence of the officials. The situation is that even the money spent for cleaning the forest is not repaid. Ten to twenty wild elephants roam around here, said a farmer.