Sleman uses natural predators against ravaging mice

Sleman uses natural predators against ravaging mice

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Sleman, Yogyakarta

Years of uncontrolled use of pesticides and insecticides has
resulted in an increased mice population, much to the misery of
local farmers.

The situation got worse with a sharp decline in the
populations of the main mice predators -- snakes and owls -- in
Sleman regency, especially the western subdistricts.

The head of the regency's agricultural and forestry office,
Achmad Yulianto, said that since 1998 over 15,000 hectares of
paddy fields out of the regency's 23,000 hectares had experienced
failed harvests due to mice attacks. The hardest hit areas have
been Seyegan, Minggir and Godean -- which are Sleman's three main
rice producers.

"As many as 8,000 hectares of rice fields in the three regions
have been unable to be harvested completely for years due to mice
attacks. You can imagine the losses we have suffered if, say,
each hectare of field is supposed to produce some six tons of
rice per harvest with a price of Rp 2,000 per kilogram," Yulianto
said.

Another official, Cecilia Ambarwati, said poor cultivation
patterns also contributed to the increased population of mice in
Sleman's rice fields.

Because rice has been planted continuously over the years
without any other crops breaking the cycle, she said, the mice
population had grown due to the secure and continuous supply of
food.

"Fighting mice attacks with poison was not possible because
there were too many mice to fight. Mass hunts and killings were
also difficult to conduct for the same reason. Besides, it takes
a lot of people for that and most of the fields are also rocky,"
said Ambarwati, adding that both measures had been tried but
failed.

Based on these consideration, therefore, natural control
methods were chosen to deal with the mice population.

"Nature has its own mechanisms to preserve balance. So why
don't we try to restore the balance of nature by providing it
with the natural predators of mice, owls and snakes?" Ambarwati
said.

Starting in 1996, efforts to create awareness among Sleman's
farmers on the importance of a balance in nature were carried out
through various forums such as village dialogs, seminars,
workshops and various other mediums, including passing out
leaflets and meeting with farmers' associations. The first action
was taken in 2002 with the release of three owls in the fields in
Moyudan.

"It turned out that owls were effective in controlling the
mice population. Only, the owls are so mobile that although there
have been some 34 owls released so far, they are not always in
Sleman region," Panggih, an official at the agricultural and
forestry office, said.

Also in 2002, as many as 65 snakes were released in the
fields. The following year over 200 snakes were released and
another 100 snakes have been released so far this year.

"As long as there are complaints from farmers about mice
attacks, we will continue releasing the predators," Panggih said.

The results, according to Panggih, have so far been promising.
This year, for example, some of the farmers in Seyegan and
Moyudan have been able to harvest their rice.

Although the harvest has not recovered completely, there is
hope that they are winning the war against the mice.

"We have been for years unable to harvest our fields. It is a
relief to have a harvest this year," one farmer said.

Suwito Hartono, a farmer in Cangkringan, said that last year
he planted two rice crops and both failed because of mice
attacks. However, early this year he was able to harvest half of
his crop.

"I hope the government is serious about dealing with the
problem. If necessary, a government regulation should be issued
to protect the snakes from hunters. Strict sanctions and fines
have to be applied if we wish to succeed in these efforts,"
Suwito told The Jakarta Post.

The head of Cangkringan subdistrict, Hadi Mulyono, said the
mice that had been attacking his region over the last five years
had caused great suffering to local farmers.

"We have done everything to combat the mice but always failed.
The snake release, hopefully, will bring back the balance of
nature here so the mice population can be controlled and the
farmers can have their harvests back," he said.

Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto said that issuing a regulation to
protect the released snakes from hunters would be impossible.

"However, as the regent, I have given an instruction
prohibiting people from killing natural predators, including
snakes. It is now up to each village to punish or sanction
violators. They can make their own regulations on the matter, as
long as it is decided through a discussion involving the whole
village," Ibnu said.