Snakes released to protect crops

Snakes released to protect crops

YOGYAKARTA: Some 100 snakes were released in Argomulyo village,
Cangkringan subdistrict, Sleman regency, to help local farmers in
their battle with mice that have been destroying crops.

The snake release was presided over by Sleman Regent Ibnu
Subiyanto on Thursday.

Apart from the released snakes, the regent warned locals not
to hunt for predators living in their areas because they were
proven effective in controlling the mice population in
agricultural areas.

"Just consider these snakes as guardians of the
fields, so don't kill them," Ibnu said.

Separately, Head of Sleman Agricultural and Forestry Agency
Achmad Yulianto added predators were considered the most
effective agents to fight the mice plague due to the fact that
Cangkringan's paddy fields were on sloping plots.

"It's difficult to carry out a mass mice cull here. Releasing
their natural predators is the most effective way of getting rid
of mice," Achmad said.

Thursday's release was the fifth of its kind since the first
in 2002. --JP