Nepal farmers lose up to 90% maize to wildlife; 12 documents needed for Rs 10,000 relief

Nepal farmers are reporting substantial crop losses from wildlife, with rhesus macaques, wild boars and porcupines among the animals frequently entering agricultural fields. A 2026 study by the National Trust for Nature Conservation found that households surveyed across 44 local government areas lost an average of 50.3% of their maize production to wildlife, while maize losses reached up to 90% in Gandaki Province and 88% in Karnali. The government has a relief mechanism for wildlife-related crop damage, but farmers seeking assistance can be required to submit multiple documents and recommendations. Recent reporting says the process can involve 12 types of documents, while the maximum relief available for damaged grain or standing crops is Rs 10,000 (NPR), subject to the rules and assessment. Lawmakers have now called for a national plan to address rising wildlife-related crop losses.Nepal farmers’ maize losses reached 90% in GandakiThe National Trust for Nature Conservation, with technical support from Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Zoology, surveyed 1,846 households across 44 local government areas in Nepal’s mid-hill regions for its study of problematic wildlife sp...