Why shoot porcupines?

[Meteor]

I live on a farm and the owner asked me to shoot 10 for every thousand I see.
He also said they destroy crops but that is the same nonsense I heard when people talk about dassies living 1km from the nearest crop.
So sorry for trolling but are porcupines really a problem? I am giving them the same grace I would like some other farmers to give snakes.
In short are there some facts to consider or is it a personal decision you have to make yourself?

[HvR]

Know when it is dry season they start chomping up waterlines like crazy. Seen 2 porcupines destroy 1 km of waterpipe in less than a week.

[Knoffel]

Porcupines are known to cause some havoc...

[Shigawagga]

They LOVE PVC waterpipes. No one seems to know why. Not for the water inside, because they chew mine up next to the stream it draws water from... ??

[gertjie87]

I know of a farmer that loses about 25% of his crops to porcupines. That translates to a hell of a lott of money

[Maroelas]

I know the ring-bark trees. I.e. they eat all the bark around the base of the tree. This then causes the tree to die.

[madhatter]

They can ruin cash crops.
Tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons... Anything above ground & within reach is fair game.
Not sure what threat they pose to grains.

[Messor]

In short are there some facts to consider or is it a personal decision you have to make yourself?

Consider this Meteor.

In a modern farm environment what will control porcupine numbers?

[Andycap]

Consider this Meteor.

In a modern farm environment what will control porcupine numbers?

12ga

Farm workers love porcupine meat

[Meteor]

Consider this Meteor.

In a modern farm environment what will control porcupine numbers?

That's very well put Messor, thanks for the reply.