PUTTING THE FARMER 1ST IN RICE RAT CONTROL

Field rodents are serious pests of growing rice throughout South-east Asia. Traditional control measures by smallholders involve excessive use of rodenticides and are largely unsuccessful. During the past decade, government agencies and international organizations have developed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes, to minimize farmers' reliance on rodenticides. Their integrated rice rat control scheme combines habitat manipulation, correct use of rodenticides and a practical, farmer-operated surveillance process. The scheme has worked well in different rice agroecosystems throughout Indonesia and is ready for adoption on a wider scale.