Wheat Crop Protection: Do this tough work to save the wheat crop from rats

Wheat Crop Protection: Rats and other rodents destroy wheat, a significant food grain crop in an agricultural nation like India. In addition to causing significant harm to the produce in the field, rats also seriously harm it during post-harvest storage and transportation. By consuming, polluting the grain, and destroying the storage facilities, they make farmers and dealers suffer enormous financial losses. Traditional chemical techniques of controlling them may be less efficient and more harmful to the environment than biological management.

Fields are Naturally Protected and Preyed Upon

Owls are crucial to preserving the ecological equilibrium of the natural world. By hunting rats, shrews, and other dangerous animals, this night-active bird manages their population. And therefore, owls are sometimes known as ‘natural rodenticides.’. In order to keep rodents away from crops, farmers in nations like Malaysia have recently started raising owls and providing them with suitable habitat.

Rats’ Damage on the Wheat Crop

1. Consumption directly

In the fields, rats consume a lot of wheat grains, which reduces agricultural productivity. They devour and disseminate grains in storage containers, causing significant harm even after harvest.

2. Grain contamination

Rats’ urine, hair, and excrement contaminate grains, lowering their quality and perhaps rendering them unfit for human or animal use.

3. The crop is physically damaged

Wheat plants are gnawed by rats in the fields, which causes them to fall and reduces output. At the same time, they damage packing and bags in storage facilities.

4. Disease transmission

Numerous illnesses that may create major health issues for both people and animals are carried by rats.

5. Financial loss

Farmers and storage managers suffer significant financial losses as a result of rodent damage. The cost of clearing out the contaminated grain, setting up fresh grain, and fixing the storage facilities is higher.

Create natural sentinels out of owls to protect against rats

Farmers should concentrate on using biological control techniques to deal with rats in wheat fields. Bringing owls to the fields may be a successful strategy.

How can owls be drawn to the fields?

• Watch out for the emergence of wheat ears in February and March. In the event that ears seem high in some areas of the field, it indicates a rat infestation.
• Utilize polythene and bamboo strips: In these regions, cover the fields with polythene wrapped around thin bamboo strips. It is known as ‘dhuaan’ in the native tongue.
• Provide owls with comfortable spots to perch since they will use these buildings to hunt rodents.
• Generate noise at night: The ‘fur-fur’ sound emanating from the polythene will frighten the rats away from the fields when the wind is blowing.

Interesting Owl-Related Facts

• There are over 200 species of owls in the globe.
• There are primarily two species found in India: Mua and Ghughu.
• As a nocturnal bird, the owl uses its keen sense of hearing to hunt and see well, even in the dark of the night.
• In a year, an owl can kill around 1,000 rats.
• The owl’s unique skull anatomy allows it to rotate its head up to 270 degrees.
• Because the owl flies so silently, its victim doesn’t even receive a clue.

Why is Owl Conservation Important?

• Owl populations are steadily declining as a result of hunting motivated by superstition and tantra-mantra.
• The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 in India protects owls as a protected species.
• The minimum penalty for illegal owl hunting is three years.

Additional Rat Control Techniques

• Exclusion: Putting precautions in place to keep rats out of farms and storage facilities.
• Sanitation: Cleaning often and clearing up spilled grains to keep rats away.
• Trapping: Using mechanical traps, such as snap traps, to capture rodents.
• Rodenticides: Chemical baits used with caution to keep rodents under control.
• Natural repellents: Using peppermint oil and other natural techniques to keep rats away.
• Monitoring farms and storage facilities on a regular basis allows for the early discovery of rat presence.