A wild boar munches on a farmer's crops in a field at Taiyangsi village, in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Photo: IC



Despite Yanqing county paying out over 1 million yuan ($160,100) to farmers whose crops were destroyed by wild boars in 2012, which is almost up to the limit of the government budget, it does not intend to start a cull of the boars.

"We worry about the increasing compensation spending, and we are considering a plan to alleviate the situation. But now we don't plan to hunt the wild animals because we should put ecological conservation first," said Wang Zhongjiang, head of the forest ecological station, which operates under the local forestry bureau.

Yanqing was the first area in Beijing to introduce a policy to compensate farmers for the loss of crops caused by wild animals in 2002. The government subsidizes 70 percent of the lost crop. In 2012, 2,000 households from 14 out of the 15 towns and villages in Yanqing received compensation. Only 50,000 yuan was paid out in 2002. 

Besides wild boars, leopard cats and badgers also destroy the crops and domestic animals of villagers. More than 67 hectares of farm land, mostly growing corn, has been destroyed in 2012, said Wang. But it's hard to estimate the numbers of boars as they only come out at night and live in the forest, he said.

"Before 2002, many villagers complained about their losses, so we combined it with the ecological conservation situation in Yanqing and introduced this subsidy," Wang said.

The reason for the fast growth in the numbers of wild boars is because of their high reproduction rate and the county's protective policy and good ecological environment.

"The increase reflects that we have a better and better ecological environment. This is a good thing, so we should protect them," he said.

Pang Yuelong, vice director of Yanqing county forestry bureau, who manages the forestry police bureau, said wild boars are a national second-level protected animal, and those who hunt them will be fined.

"The fine will be assessed by the commodity price department but I'm not sure about the specific amount, because during the past three years, no such hunting or selling has been reported," he said.

Gao Zhiming, 52, a farmer from Jingzhuang township in Yanqing, said he planted corn on his plot of land, and expected a yield of 500 kilograms from it. However, after wild boars attacked his crop, all but 100 kilograms was destroyed. He received 700 yuan in compensation, and will continue to grow corn this year as he has the assurance of the subsidy.

"The subsidy policy gives us confidence to continue to grow crops," said Gao, "my children can go to the city and find jobs, but I've lived on a farm my whole life, so I'll stay here and farm."

But Gao has not thought of doing anything to disrupt the boars.

"I've never considered trying to restrict the reproduction or spread of the boars because it's difficult and not good for ecological protection," Gao said.

Yan Yuhong, 50, who received 300 yuan for damage to her  250-square-meter corn field, said it is hard to prevent wild boars from ruining her crops.

"I used to dress up scarecrows. But they only scare birds, and are useless for wild boars," said Yan. Half of her crop was destroyed.

But agriculture expert Dang Guoying, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences institute of rural development, said the policy could be bad for both local farmers and the government.

"Yanqing county is mountainous and unsuitable for farming. Places with that soil condition usually have lots of uncultivated land. The reason farmers are willing to farm is because they can get this subsidy. It's hard to accurately measure the crop losses," Dang told the Global Times.

"Do you think local officials will really measure the land area and do an accurate estimate of the loss?" he noted.   

Dang believes that while a good thing for villagers, the subsidy is not the best solution to the problem.

"It adds to the government's financial burden and will be a hotbed for speculation and corruption as the local officials can have a larger sum of money to control," said Dang.

A better solution could be to designate the problem area for conservation.

"Let older villagers who are willing to stay become staff in the area and the  youngsters can be given subsidies to emigrate to cities," said Dang.