JUSHAB:
Soon Valley, once famous for its soil that produced bountiful crops, located in Tehsil Naushera of Khushab district, is now facing a growing crisis as wild boars increasingly destroy croplands, pushing local farmers into economic ruin.
Residents say a government-imposed ban on wild boar hunting, enforced under wildlife protection laws, has severely impacted agriculture and livelihoods in the area.
Soon Valley farmers say the uncontrolled wild boar population has become their most pressing challenge.
The valley is an important producer of potatoes, wheat and various vegetables.
For local farmers, growing a crop is not simply an agricultural activity but an investment of their life savings, along with hopes tied to children’s education and family responsibilities.
According to farmers, growing a single acre of potatoes now costs more than Rs 200,000, including expenses for seeds, fertilisers, electricity and labour. However, when crops are close to maturity, herds of wild boar often attack the fields under the cover of darkness.
Farmers say the animals cause more harm than consumption, uprooting plants with their powerful snouts and destroying entire fields in a matter of hours.
Speaking to Express, political and social figure Mian Salahuddin said the current politics has created a crisis on the ground.
“The ban on wild boar hunting in the name of wildlife protection has effectively tied the hands of farmers,” he said.
“If a farmer kills a wild boar to protect his crop, he faces heavy fines and, in some cases, prison.”
He argued that the law does not reflect the realities of Soon Valley.
“Here wild boars are not an endangered species. Their population has increased rapidly and is now out of control. When controlled hunting was allowed, their numbers remained balanced and they were kept away from farms and settlements.
“Now they are not afraid because they know that no one can stop them,” he added.
Farmers say the losses they face are not only financial but also psychological.
Many depend on bank loans or money borrowed from commission agents to finance cultivation. When crops are destroyed, payment becomes impossible, trapping farmers in debt. As a result, a significant number of producers have stopped farming altogether.
Thousands of acres of fertile land now lie fallow, and farmers say it is better to leave the land barren than to invest only to see crops destroyed.
The issue has also raised concerns about public safety. Residents report that wild boars are no longer confined to fields and hillsides, but frequently enter roads and residential areas at night.
Several traffic accidents involving motorcyclists have been reported, resulting in injuries and deaths.
Environmentalists in the area also warn that wild boars damage mountain vegetation and destroy the eggs of ground-nesting birds, altering the natural ecological balance of the valley.
Soon Valley farmers have jointly appealed to the provincial government, Punjab Chief Minister and Wildlife Department to urgently address the issue.
Their main demand is the immediate lifting of the ban on hunting wild boar.
Alternatively, they suggest issuing hunting licenses or launching a government-led population control campaign. Farmers also argue that if the government insists on protecting animals, it should fully compensate them for crop losses per acre.
“You can’t say you support agriculture on one hand and allow farmers’ livelihoods to be destroyed on the other,” said one local farmer.
“If immediate action is not taken, agriculture in Soon Valley will collapse, directly affecting the food supply and the national economy.”
Residents urge policymakers to visit the valley and witness the situation first-hand.
“The laws are meant to serve the people, not destroy their livelihoods,” said one farmer. “Our plea is simple: let us live and protect our means of earning money.”
