VOA慢速英语--印度农民改用草药来阻止饥饿的猴子

Indian Farmers Switch to Herbs to Stop Hungry Monkeys

Farmers in India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh are now growing herbs instead of traditional crops such as rice, wheat and corn. They are trying to save their farms from monkeys eating their crops.

For years, farmers have fought a losing battle with increasing numbers of the red-faced rhesus macaques. The animals invade¹ farms in several northern Indian states, searching for food and destroying crops worth millions of dollars.

Many have given up on farming because of the monkey problem. Officials estimate² that 40 percent of the farmland in the area is unplanted.

Agriculture experts say switching to herbs will protect farmers’ crops and bring higher profits.

Monkeys do not attack crops such as aloe vera, an herb with medicinal properties. Farmers can make more money as demand for herbs increases from Indian companies making medicinal and personal care products. India’s herbal product industry is worth $4 billion and growing quickly.

Arun Chandan is regional director at the National Medicinal Plants Board for North India. He told VOA, “We teach farmers the kind of crop they can grow according to the soil, the water and air in that area, what market exists for it and how he can increase his income by two or three times...”

Some farmers have already starting planting herbs with help from the medicinal plants board. The group provides planting material and training. Farmer Bipin Kumar in Magroo village says he has planted aloe vera, stevia and lemon grass. He now plans to expand to other herbs.

He added that the herbs survive even in relatively³ drier soils and are not damaged by dense⁴ fog that is common in the hills.

Experts have listed about 100 herbs that can be grown on the empty farmland where villagers stopped growing crops.

So far, nearly 4,000 farmers have switched to growing herbs in seven North Indian states. In Himachal Pradesh, the number is 300.

Arun Chandan says the most successful farmers have strong business sense and are willing to innovate⁵. His organization also links farmers in distant villages with possible buyers to make sure they can market their crops.

Monkeys are also becoming problems in cities, including India’s capital New Delhi. They are famous for stealing food and even mobile⁶ phones.

In December, experts gave lawmakers advice on dealing⁷ with monkeys often seen around parliament⁸. The experts advised leaving the animals alone and not making eye contact.

The monkey population has increased since India banned their export for biomedical research in 1978.

But many in Hindu-majority India respect and feed the animals. They link the monkeys to the Hindu god Hanuman, who takes the form of a monkey.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

according to – prep. as stated, reported, or recorded by someone or something; in a way that is based on something

innovate – v. to do something in a new way; to have new ideas about how something can be done

1 invade   

v.侵略，侵犯；闯入，侵扰

参考例句：

• I don't want to invade your private life unnecessarily.我不想过多地干涉你的私生活。
• He ordered the army to invade at dawn.他命令军队在拂晓入侵。

2 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

5 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。

6 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。