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Solar-Powered Electric and Mesh Fences Protected Crops From Rhesus Macaques in Assam Field Trials

Rhesus macaque resting on a tree in Guwahati, Assam, India
Conservation · Human–wildlife conflict

Field trials in Assam, India, found that solar-powered electric fencing and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) netting substantially reduced crop losses associated with rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). The study evaluated the two barrier systems at four locations across two agro-climatic zones from 2022–23 to 2024–25.

At sites in Sivasagar district, protected vegetable and fruit crops had no recorded rhesus macaque damage, while damage in unprotected plots reached as high as 90% for some crops. Papaya, brinjal and guava were among the crops for which protection prevented the largest losses.

In Lakhimpur district during 2023–24, crops behind solar fencing produced a mean yield of 2.01 kg/m², compared with 0.17 kg/m² in unprotected plots — nearly twelve times as high. The authors calculated that 91.5% of the yield loss could have been avoided with protection. HDPE net fencing produced 2.30 kg/m² compared with 0.23 kg/m² without protection, a tenfold difference.

The study also surveyed farmers in three villages in Biswanath district. Between 80% and 95% of respondents were aware of technologies such as solar fencing and expressed positive attitudes towards adopting measures against monkey intrusion. The authors report that adoption increased over the study period, particularly in Gorehagi and Nepalibari.

Sources and image credit

  1. Hazarika, T., Saikia, P., & Gogoi, P. P. (2026). Solar and high-density polyethylene net fencing for eco-friendly management of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in Assam: Mitigation against monkey damage. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 48(8), 851–860. https://doi.org/10.9734/jeai/2026/v48i84432Primary research article published 12 August 2026. Field trials at four Assam locations from 2022-23 to 2024-25 evaluated solar fencing and HDPE netting against rhesus macaque crop intrusion. Protected crops at Sivasagar sites recorded no damage compared with up to 90% in unprotected plots. In Lakhimpur, mean yield was 2.01 kg/m² with solar fencing versus 0.17 kg/m² unprotected, and 2.30 versus 0.23 kg/m² with HDPE netting.

Image: Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) resting in a tree at Boxistho, Guwahati, Assam, India, 1 October 2017. Photo: Horshadeep Saikia. Source: Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Representative image; not an animal or trial site from the reported study. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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