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Details Of Innovation
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Much damage is caused to crops like groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), corn (Zea mays), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum ), brinjal (Solanum melongena), and so on, by the foxes which eat the fruit. To fight the fox menace, Jasmatbhai Meghjibhai Surani uses a dead hedgehog and flays its skin, which he then puts in a container and burns it. The timing of lighting the fire is important. It has to be done one hour after sunset. That is the time when the nocturnal fox starts looking to feast on fruit crops. The effect of the burning skin will keep the hungry fox away from the farm for three days at least. The farmer estimates that by his method, eight percent of the crop can be saved each time the dead skin is burnt. Local farmers recognize the animal whose skin is burnt as "sheda" in the Bhimdad area in the Bhavnagar district. "Sheda" is seen around farms, old fencing of pastures, and in the forest. It is small, like a cat. The animal is game for dogs and other animals that chase it and kill it. The skin of these animals is found very easily if a search is carried out in those areas.
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