Kerala announces 100 per cent rise in crop-damage compensation for wildlife attacks at Thiruvambady farmers' conclave

29 September 2026

A state-level conclave on farmer safety and wildlife conflict was held at Thiruvambady. Forest Minister Shibu Baby John inaugurated it, Agriculture Minister Adv. T. Siddique presided and Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar was chief guest. In his concluding speech the Agriculture Minister announced that compensation for crop damage in wildlife attacks will be raised by 100 per cent, that steps have begun to set aside ₹119 crore for natural-calamity crop-loss compensation since 2021 with payment from next month, and that startups developing wildlife-conflict solutions will get ₹4 lakh each initially. The proposals presented at the conclave include priority for the 55 panchayats worst hit by wildlife conflict.