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.