Goa, May 23 -- Farmers cultivating the traditional 'Vayli Devkhadi' fields in Bhandarwada, Amona, and Sankhali have expressed deep concern over the growing menace of stray buffaloes, which they say has devastated their crops and livelihoods for the past four years.

According to local farmers, buffaloes straying from nearby Mayna-Nhaveli and Amona frequently enter the fields and destroy standing rice crops as well as the seasonal Halsande crop. The farmers claim that due to repeated destruction caused by the animals, they have not been able to harvest a single grain of Halsande in the last four years.

Speaking on the issue, Sandesh Naik, President of the Brahmeshwar Farmers' Association, said that despite farming becoming economically di...