Wild pig attacks compromise corn crops in Mato Grosso

The trail of destruction left by wild pigs, known as “wild pigs”, is enormous in the State. This type of attack on corn crops is nothing new. As it is a great source of food, it attracts wild boars and boars (a cross between a domestic pig and a wild boar). Another headache for rural producers in Mato Grosso are peccaries and peccaries, species that have great devastating power.

Concerned about the damage caused to crops, the Association of Soy and Corn Producers of Mato Grosso (Aprosoja-MT) recommends that farmers use the TimeStamp Camera Basic application, available for Android and IOS. “Aprosoja recommends that producers take videos with their cell phones horizontally. The application helps in georeferencing attacks by wild pigs, informing the exact location, date and attaching photos and videos. This will help to set up a database for the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), to control these pests”, highlights the vice-president of Aprosoja-MT, Lucas Costa Beber.

For producer Nirto Luiz Fasolo Junior, from Querência, attacks have been increasing in the region with each harvest. “We are concerned about the damage that wild pigs are causing on our properties, destroying corn crops”, highlights Fasolo.

In the northern region of the state, in the municipality of Sorriso, the unwanted presence of these wild animals has also increased, as commented by rural producer Tiago Stefanello. “The increase in wild pigs in the state is already unsustainable and if it continues like this the loss will be very large for this harvest”, points out Stefanello.

A measure that would help with control -- and that most producers request -- is the slaughter to control the population of peccary and peccary. However, prior authorization is required from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). In 2013, the slaughter of wild boars and boars was authorized under the authorization and supervision of the agency.

“Hunting for human consumption should be allowed, respecting environmental rules, helping to reduce attacks and minimizing losses”, says the president of the rural union of Primavera do Leste, Marcos Bravin

 Aprosoja Mato Grosso also emphasizes the importance of registering attacks through the application, so that the region that has the highest incidence of problems with wild animals can be analyzed.

The IBAMA Manual of Good Practices for Wild Boar Control can be read here.