Following complaints of rats in grain stores and fields by farmers in the district, tips were given to them during the farmer’s grievance meeting.
B. Usha Rani, Assistant Professor (Agricultural Entomology) of Krishi Vigyan Kendra at the Agricultural College and Research Institute (AC and RI), said that farmers must look out for seeds being eaten at the planting stage, tillers cut at 45 degrees near the base, and missing grains in rice. They were common symptoms of rat infestation in the fields.
“A combination of cultural, mechanical and biological measures followed by chemical control measures as a last resort should be used to effectively tackle the problem. Deep ploughing of up to 18 inches will unearth rat burrows which will unearth the pests, and releasing water into them will also kill the pests,” she said. “Traditional Tanjore bamboo bow traps or other rat traps can be placed on the fields. Owl perches can be fixed near the rat burrows to attract birds,” she added.
Ms. Usha asked the farmers to place Bromadiolone cakes in active borrows, a few weeks after planting seeds to keep the rat population in check and control residual population of the pest through fumigation.
Delay in compensation
Questioning delay in compensation for drought , farmers raised queries on crop losses.
“In the last two years, we have not received any compensation for coconut trees which have dried up during the drought,” said M. Pandian, president, Madurai District Farmers’ Association.
Joint Director (in charge) of Agriculture Sarnath Babu said that the damage had already been assessed and the report sent to the State government and that compensation was awaited. “For the year 2013-14, the damage due to drought was assessed at 1,37,651 lakh coconut trees and for 2014-15, we have recorded 1,39,651 coconut trees as having been affected,” he told the farmers.
