Step 15: "Of mice and men"

According to CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), "it is not uncommon for families or villages in South-East Asia to lose more than 50 per cent of their crop to rats." We experienced during our first trial of rice plantation problems with mice and rats in the nursery and in the rice field.

In the nursery, we lost young seedlings after their not friendly visits.

The use of chinese model trap was efficient but not enough to protect the basins of seedlings. The most efficient bait was slice of wheat loaf bread: 5 rats in 4 nights.

We had to isolate the basins with sheets of metal and these two counter measures solved the problem in the nursery.

In the rice field we observed very fast destruction of rice estimated to 20% of the production. We decided to harvest 2 to 3 days in advance to limit the increasing of the destruction.

We decided to start a low cost rat control in the rice field to avoid, if possible, so big destruction in the future. According to rat specialists, March and September are the best months to capture the rats but it is necessary to catch 70% of the population to begin to have an effect on the level of destruction. So, no time to waste!

Our tested low-cost technique, coming from India, needs a pail, a strong plain wire, some cobs of mais and peanut butter.

First step is to locate the rats house near the banks of the rice fields.

Then we dig a hole to install a pail, opening at the level of the soil. The pail is filled 1/3 with water.

A cob of mais is drilled and must turn freely on the wire. The wire is bent 90° each side and driven in the soil. The cob is covered with peanut butter to attract the rat. The rats are supposed to fall in the bucket.

Replant around to give a more natural aspect.

 After two days, we catched only frogs! Some corn ears are also eaten probably by wise rats. The hunter must be patient...