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A systems approach to rodent management in upland environments in Lao PDR
Photos from flickr
Project ID
ADP/2004/016
Project Country
Commissioned Organisation
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Australia
Project Leader
Dr Peter Brown
Peter.Brown@csiro.au
Phone:
0262421562
Fax:
0262421505
Project Budget
$215,939.00
Start Date
01/01/2005
Finish Date
31/12/2006
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Dr Simon Hearn
Overview Objectives
Project objectives were: to develop robust management solutions for rodent management in upland shifting cultivation systems based on understanding of population dynamics of the key rodent pests and to prepare a manual on rodent control; to determine the sociological and cultural factors that influence farmers' decisions on the adoption of rodent management through conducting pre- and post-survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP); to develop the capacity and involvement of government and NGO extension for establishing adoption pathways of ecologically-based rodent management.
Project Background and Objectives
Shifting cultivation remains one of the dominant production systems in many upland areas throughout Southeast Asia. Many of the rural communities practising this traditional agriculture are very poor. In the uplands of Laos this pattern holds true, with smallholders amongst the poorest in Asia. Lao farmers practicing shifting cultivation in upland areas grow rice, maize, sorghum and other crops. Rodent pests are a major production constraint, and farmers cite this as the problem they have the least control over. Past ACIAR research has developed a population-based control, the community trap barrier system (TBS). The TBS uses a lure crop, planted ahead of the main crop and traps strategically placed around a barrier encasing this lure crop, to trap sufficient quantities of rodents to break population cycles, which coincide with crop cycles.
Past project work in Laos introduced the TBS concept, established for lowland irrigated rice, into an upland shifting cultivation setting. Farmers adapted this to protect stored grain but found it had limited impact in the field. Rodent population data, together with data on past rodent outbreaks, were also collected in the earlier project and were used in this project to test rodent management practices amongst farmers.
Progress Reports (Year 1, 2, 3 etc)
Year 1:
This project has made substantial achievements against the key activities and on track to meeting all milestones.
Core project sites were identified and established in Luang Namtha (3 treated and 3 untreated sites) and Luang Prabang (2 treated and 2 untreated). Four key farmers were identified in each village to assist with collection of data and implementation of research activities. Additional project sites were established in Oudomxay (1 treated and 1 untreated) and Houaphan (1 treated). Furthermore, through the involvement of World Vision, additional sites were established in 3 Districts in Luang Prabang. In each District, 2 or 3 villages were selected where demonstration activities and background information was collected.
Trapping protocols were established to monitor the breeding activity of the main pests. Monthly samples are collected from key habitats in Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang.
A workshop entitled "Initial workshop to develop rodent management practices for upland systems of Lao PDR" was held at the Houaykhot Research Station, Luang Prabang, 27-28 April 2005 and was attended by 49 participants, including 19 farmers from 2 provinces. This was a highly successful workshop because of the strong commitment of the NAFRI staff and the involvement of the farmers. A suite of potential rodent management actions were developed for the lowland, upland and village habitats. These were the basis for rodent control actions for the treated sites in the wet and dry seasons of 2005. NAFRI staff encouraged farmers in the treated sites to conduct these practices. Information on the number of farmers at each site that were participating in these practices were recorded.
A draft manual containing information about the key pests in Laos and an identification key is being developed. This will be finalised shortly and then translated into Lao before being printed and distributed. Additionally, 2 posters describing the main pest rodent species and the main rodent control actions (identified during the workshop) are being developed.
Information on damage caused by rodents to crops was collected through damage assessment surveys and yield loss exclosures (small areas of crop surrounded by a plastic fence to exclude rats). Damage was low in the wet season in 2005, except at sites in Oudomxay, where damage was approximately 20%.
During selection of project sites, we conducted focus group discussions along with social mapping and wealth analyses. These formed the basis of the background information for each of the sites. We also conducted a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey of farmers (15 males, 5 females) from each site. Preliminary results show that 97% of farmers considered that rodents were their main pest problem, with rice, corn and Jobs' tear suffering most damage.
A 2-day training workshop on rodent biology and management for key staff involved in the project was held in Luang Namtha, 4-5 August 2005, with 15 participants drawn from Provincial and District Agriculture and Forestry Offices from Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Houaphan provinces, in addition to World Vision Lao PDR staff and staff from an EU project in Luang Namtha. The course provided information on the biology and taxonomy of rodents that is important to assist with the management of rodents. There was an emphasis on identification of rodents and collecting detailed breeding data with a mixture of presentations and practical sessions. The ACIAR rodent manual was a valued resource for the participants (Aplin, K. P., Brown, P. R., Jacob, J., Krebs, C. J., and Singleton, G. R. (2003). Field methods for rodent studies in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. ACIAR Monograph 100. 223 pp. ACIAR, Canberra).
Training courses for farmers were conducted on each of the 7 treatment sites and included biology and ecology of the main rodent pest species, control options (including demonstration of techniques), project activities and importance of collecting data from farmers. There were 15-20 farmers involved from each site.
Formal linkages for adoption pathways are being developed. There are strong links with World Vision Lao PDR, and we have had staff involved from an EU project in Luang Namtha. Additional links have been established with various institutions within NAFRI and with Provincial and District Agriculture Offices, particularly in Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang. We have had staff from these offices attend the workshop in April and the training course in August. They will be invited to attend the mid-project meeting to be held early in 2006.
Project Outcomes
The key impact was a strong ownership of the recommended rodent management strategies by the farmers, extension staff and the NGO.
Farmers on treatment sites in Luang Prabang spent significantly more time in trapping rats, but overall spent less money applying rodent management practices compared to reference sites. In contrast, farmers on treatment sites in Luang Namtha spent less time controlling rats but spent more money (one site applied rodenticides which were expensive) compared to reference sites.
The project team drew up a list of final recommended rodent management strategies for Laos.
Upland: Employ traps continuously, use pitfall traps (1 m deep, 0.5 m wide at opening), set up the bait trap-barrier system (TBS). Work together to hunt rats in field stores, and again to hunt rats after harvest.
Lowland/garden: Employ traps continuously, work together to hunt rats after harvest, set up pitfall traps,
dig burrows and hunt with dogs.
Village: Establish rules/regulations for sustainable management of rodents (stop use of rodenticides, stop eating predators of the rat, promote village campaign and work together). Raise cats and dogs, conduct sanitation throughout village, set up a grain store trap barrier system (TBS), get school children working together to trap rats, and conduct village campaign at key times.
As compared to farmers in reference sites, treatment farmers maintained a rice store TBS, pitfall traps, sanitation, bait TBS and TBS in the field. There was an 80% reduction in use of rodenticides on treatment sites (some villages banned the use of rodenticides).
Rodent damage to upland and lowland rice was relatively low to crops throughout the project, while damage increased from booting to flowering to harvesting stages. There was no significant difference between treatment and reference sites, with crop damage for corn 7% (range 0-26%), for lowland rainfed rice 3% (0-16%), for lowland dry season rice 1% (1-2%) and for upland rainfed rice 1% (0-7%).
Moderate levels of breeding of the black rat, the main pest species, was evident throughout the year (15-25% adult females pregnant each month). Therefore, management of villages and neighbouring areas needs to be continuous.
A manual on the rodents of Laos was completed with a description and photos of 12 pest and 24 non-pest species, identification keys and recommended rodent management strategies. The publication contains English and Lao information. Four Lao brochures were developed covering the main pest species and the rodent control strategies.
The project researchers determined the sociological and cultural factors that influence farmers' decisions on the adoption of rodent management through conducting a pre- and post-survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP). They found the key impact was the reduction in reliance of rodenticides (from 34% of farmers applying rodenticides to 21%, which is a 39% reduction) with reliance on trapping remaining high. For successful rodent management, it was important to have a rodent 'champion' in the village, strong support from the village head, and for the village to work together to manage rodents.
The capacity of government and NGOs for establishing extension and adoption pathways for ecologically-based rodent management was enhanced through regular involvement of extension staff in the project workshops, training courses on rodent biology and taxonomy and through cross-visits by farmers and extension staff to different provinces.
Location
There are no project locations defined for this project.
