All India Network Project On Rodent Control

Objectives

The station was established in the year of 1987 as Regional Research Station of the CAZRI. It is located at Kukma, which is 14 km from Bhuj city on the Bhuj � Anjar state highway. The station has a fenced, well-protected research farm of 58.53 ha. area. It also has a farm pond which can store about 22, 000 m3 run off rain water. Office-cum-laboratory building, farm office with vehicle shed are also located on farm.

• To conduct research on rodent population, biology, ecology and crop loss assessments under different agro ecosystems of the country.
• To evaluate multi locational rodent management techniques against major rodent pests and to evolve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system for different cropping systems.
• To coordinate various research programmes related to rodent management at various cooperating centers.
• To conduct on farm trials to study the impact assessment and refinement of rodent management technologies at farmers field under social engineering activity.
• Dissemination of information on research accomplishments and creation of trained manpower through practical trainings at various levels for human resource development in the field of rodent control.

Technical Programme

• Survey, identification and monitoring of Rodents in different agro-climatic zones of India.
• Evaluation of relative bio-efficacy of existing and newer rodenticides and effect of intermittent control operations on mixed population of rodents in different agro-climatic zone of India.
• Assessment of the extent of rodent damage and its distribution in major crops.
• Development of effective rodent control strategies for agricultural crops, plantation, horticultural crops, rangelands and afforestation plantations.
• Ecological takeover of rodents in relation to changing land use pattern in different agro-climatic zone of India.
• On and Off campus training programmes and Field Demonstrations on rodent control

AINP -Setup

Centers

Significant Achievements

Being an All India Project, the plan scheme has made steady progress in the field of research, extension and Trainings on Rodent Control. The Project has made a major dent in identifying the pest rodents, diagnostics of the problem, bio ecology and behaviour of the target pest species in order to evolve a management system. Some of the salient research achievements of the project are:

Crops

• Lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis was the most predominant rodent pest species infesting various cropping systems in all the major agro-ecological regions of the country. In Himachal Pradesh too, B. bengalensis was found to predominantly inhabit all the agro-climatic zones up to 2500 MSL. In Eastern and Southern dry zones of Karnataka, North-western arid zone of Gujarat and Western Punjab, Tatera indica was the predominant pest species. Indian desert gerbil, Meriones hurrianae occupied the predominant position in rain fed crops, grass lands, forestry plantations etc in western Rajasthan. Similarly Rattus rattus wroughtoni proved to be a serious threat to coconut and other plantation crops in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka. A species complex of B. bengalensis- Rattus meltada/ T. indica -Mus booduga was the most common rodent pest composition in the irrigated cropping system of the country.
• Changes in land use pattern and urbanization has affected the xeric rodents in arid zones, as these species are being replaced by sub-mesic /mesic/ commensal species. Studies on population dynamics and further spread of recently intruding Bandicota bengalensis in arid zone was undertaken.
• In rice-rice system prevalence of pregnancy in lesser bandicoots was maximum in May with another small peak during March and October in Godawari delta, whereas in urban locales of Jodhpur it showed higher pregnancy rates during March and August.
• Four species viz., Niviventer niviventer, N. fluvescens, Rattus sikkimensis and R .nitidus were identified as problem species showing upsurge in their population synchronizing with bamboo flowering in NEH region. Two squirrel species, Calloscirrus and Dremnomys lokriah were reported to be major problem species in fruit crops in Assam. Monitoring of rodent problem in NEH revealed population upsurge in parts of Manipur and Assam in 2003-04 and in Arunachal Pradesh in 2004-05 due to mass flowering of bamboos.
• The gerbils inflicted 6.8-18% damage to seedlings and 3.5-20% pod damage to moong moth and sesame crops in Rajasthan, whereas in A.P. and Punjab, the tiller damage in rice fields surrounded by maize, sugarcane and wheat fields adjoining sugarcane experienced higher rodent damage than that of solo cropping system. Among vegetables, potato, brinjal and cucurbits suffered 2.1-7.2 and 4.2-6.9% rodent damage.The losses due to hoarding by bandicoots was 1.2-5.2 kg/burrow. Rice and ragi crops experienced 3-6 and 5-7% damage in Karnataka.
• Neem leaf powder (5%) showed antifeedant action on rodents, hence recommended as protectant in storage, whereas neem oil repelled the rats to the tune of 18-48%. Neem formulation BBR recorded a repellency index upto 87% at 3% conc. in baits against rodents.
• Jojoba seed cake powder (10-20%) recorded a repellency index of up to 90% in Tatera indica. The aversion through learning persited for a week. Among other botanicals kaner seeds, neem cake, castor seeds and jatropha seeds too showed anti rodent properties in preliminary trials. Crude cotton-seed oil (5%) showed anti fertility effects on bandicoots.
• Male urine was found to possess sex pheromonal properties as it was reported to accelerate puberty in females. Vaginal opening was advanced for three weeks. Addition of fresh burrow sand in baits increases the bait acceptance and consumption in bandicoots indicating that urinary pheromones are involved in intra specific communication.
• Studies on rodent management in poultry farms were concluded and the significant recommendations of this Project were brought out in form of a Technology Bulletin entitled " Rodent Management in Poultry Farms" for the benefit of poultry farmers.
• Introduction of mesic rodents viz. B. bengalensis and Nesokia indica were reported in the Indira Gandhi canal command areas of western Rajasthan desert. B. bengalensis was reported from Jodhpur for the first time.
• Alpha-chlorohydrin , a toxicant cum-male sterilant recorded an LD 50 of 82 mg/kg for B. bengalensis , The dead rats were observed to indicate reduced male organs (testes, epididymis) and aspermia in epididymal fluid. The compound showed its good promise as a follow up treatment in sugarcane fields infested by bandicoots. A germ cell mutagen, ethyl methane sulphonate, was reported to cause dose dependant sperm abnormalities in lesser bandicoots and house rats.Similarly epi chlorohydrin @ 50-100 mg/kg proved an effective male sterilant for lesser bandicoots.
• Acceptability and bio-efficacy of several anticoagulant rodenticides were investigated in laboratory and field trials. Brodifacoum, flocoumafen, Coumatetralyl, Difethialone etc. proved their rodenticidal potency against all major pest rodents of the country. Freshly prepared poison baits showed greater promise over the ready to use wax block formulations of second-generation anticoagulants. Burrow baiting scored significantly over other modes of rodenticidal application.
• Difethialone (0.0025%) in fresh baits proved effective against baitshy rodents. Vitamin K1 supplementation @ twice the dosage intake of Difethialone for two weeks was sufficient to reverse the anticoagulation process in rodents.
• Regular weed control and trapping by removal method for 3 nights per month, reduces rodent pest population significantly in the fruit orchards. The Project has developed baiting station/containers utilizing waste materials.Reduction in dyke and regular weed management and anticoagulant baiting or AlP fumigation forms the package of rodent management in vegetable crops in hilly regions.
• A Small compact burrow fumigator was designed and developed by AICRP. It involves burning of farm wastes like paddy straw, weeds etc for smoke generation. The smoke is pumped into rodent burrows with the help of a blower. The unit has proved very effective in managing field rodents.
• IPM model for rodent pests in the arid and dry land cropping system was developed. The system integrates, cultural, mechanical and chemical methods of rodent management.
• Baiting with zinc phosphide (2.0%) followed by bromadiolone (0.005%) was recommended for rodent pest management for field crops. In cocoa, coconut palm and fruit orchards, treatments with bromadiolone (0.005%) on the crown/ forks of the branches has been recommended.
• Social Engineering Activity on Rodent control was continued at all the centers. The activity resulted in over 75% control success in adopted villages and has been able to create awareness about rodent management amongst farmers.
• AICRP on Rodent control has brought out Technical bulletins for popularization of rodent management Technologies to the Govt. Depts, NGOs, extension personnel, farmers, etc. Various cooperating centers have also brought out booklets/pamphlets on rodent management in Hindi and their local languages.
• Farmers’ participatory adaptive research was continued at all centers under social engineering activity on rodent control. The project has been successful in creating awareness in farmers about rodent problem and its management in the adopted villages with a rodent control success ranging between 50-60%.
• Action Plans for NEH Developed: Two pronged Action Plans (i) for researchers and (ii) for extension personnels was developed for NEH region for effective management of Rodents during their upsurge synchronizing with bamboo flowering. Besides organizing a special Training on Rodent management in Arunachal Pradesh in association with CAU Imphal.
  Regional Meeting on Rodent Pest Management for NEH Region was organized at Aizawl during April 2005.
• Publication of a quarterly "Rodent Newsletter" is continued since 1977. The Newsletter has wide circulation and is quite popular amongst rodentologists of the country and abroad.