Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 4 • Integrated Insect and Rodent Pests Management
Exercise No. 4.18 166
COMMUNITY-BASED RODENT MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES FOR PROFITABLE ORGANIC VEGETABLE
PRODUCTION
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
Rodents concentrate in adjoining grass and other covers
following cultivation. Rapid movements into crop field
are enhanced with more plant and weed cover, more so in
presence of greening corn or leafy and fruit vegetables.
Enhanced reproduction also occurs under these conditions 167 .
As previously discussed, effective rodent management
requires a community-based effort. Past experiences
indicate that many cultural management practices can
be incorporated in a community-based management approach 168 to effectively regulate rodent
population in vegetable fields, such as:
Physical methods:
• Blanket system is probably the most popular removal process. It involves driving rodents into
a central grass trap where they are eventually killed. It offers a direct estimate of animal
population given a required sample size. Removal process is comparatively fast and effective
particularly when used selectively in preferred harborages or against probable bait-shy
population. Community-based actions, which employ men, work animals, and tractor-drawn
cultivators are necessary.
• Burrow excavation or digging is preferred over the use of fumigants, flames, or water to
dislodge occupants. However, this method may result to a high rate of escape and more often is
not cost-effective due to difference in percent occupancy.
• Others, such as use of traps, deep trenches, barriers, and other auxiliary methods may also be
used as a matter of choice.
166 Adapted from Callo, Jr. D.P., A.G. Castillo, and C.A. Baniqued (eds). 2001. Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Corn Production. SEAMEO
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), College, Laguna, Philippines. pp360-362.
167 PGCPP. 1987. Pocket Reference Manual on Integrated Pest Management in Corn. Philippine-German Crop Protection Programme (PGCPP), Bureau of
Plant Industry (BPI), manila, Philippines. pp60-63.
168 Sumangil, J.P. 1990. Control of ricefield rats in the Philippines. In Quick, G.R. (ed). 1990. Rodents and Rice. Report and Proceedings of an Expert Panel
Meeting on Rice Rodent Control held on 10-14 September 1990 at International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. pp35-48.
249
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT and VST
sessions, as follow-up
of ‘Rodent Population
Dynamics: A Group
Dynamics Exercise As
Well’ topic; and
ɶ When farmers want
to learn innovative
community-based
integrated rodent
management (IRM)
options for their organic
vegetable growing.