KOPPAL: Even as our so-called netas have been making a ruckus over misuse of mobile phones in the legislature, a few farmers from Betagera village near Koppal have shown a novel way for its better use.
Farmers have been facing a chronic menace of birds and animals such as sparrows, deer and monkeys destroying their harvest-ready crops in their fields, especially at night. Consequently, they either have to stay in the fields or pay to protect crops. A few farmers, including young Yelukotesh and Neelappa Kurubar, have found a novel way of protecting crops by using mobile phones.
Yelukotesh told Express: “Nowadays, indigenous mobile sets are available at an affordable cost of about `500. We charge the mobile set in the daytime to its capacity. We switch on songs at maximum volume and keep it amidst the crops to keep birds and animals away. Usually, we place the mobile phone sets at around 10.30 pm and go home. The phone will keep belting out music till 4 am and protect the crops.”
Yelukotesh has cultivated maize and jowar in his four-acre land at Betagera.Neelappa Kurubar said the mobile phone method would also help protect crops from thieves, especially between midnight and 3 am. A few other Betagera farmers echoed similar views and noted that this trend is picking up gradually.