A biological control program using a technology already used in other countries will pilot in Iloilo to address the problem on rodent infestation in the province.

Dr. Ildelfonso Toledo, head of the Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) said that the province was chosen as one of the pilot sites of the Department of Agriculture for its rat bio-control technology already practiced in Cuba, Vietnam and Thailand.

Toledo said that bio control is a pesticide mixed into food mixture that kills rats.

“Just mix it and feed it to the rats, then, they will be contaminated and their whole population will die,” he said during the awarding of 30 hero farmers in the region held recently in Brgy. Lanit in Jaro district.

The program was first implemented in the region, covering other provinces like Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental. It will also be implemented in the province of Negros Oriental.

Toledo meanwhile clarified that the mixture will not affect humans and other pets.

He said that by reducing the number of rats, the infestation of crops will also be lessened, noting that a pair of rats can produce 500 rats in just two months.

Recently, three Cuban scientists visited the province to introduce the technology and was tried in the towns of Sigma in Capiz and in Sta. Barbara in Iloilo.

RAT INFESTATION

Meanwhile, based on the latest rat damage report of the PAO, the rat infestation that affected the rice farms of 32 towns of Iloilo province is now controlled.

As of Aug. 28, 2012, there were 5,450 hectares affected areas in the province.

Of the towns affected, rat infestation was already controlled in the towns of Lambunao, Calinog, Dingle, Barotac Viejo, Sara, Concepcion and Passi City.

Other towns affected include Tubungan, Oton, Alimodian, Sta. Barbara, Pavia, Leganes, Zarraga, Cabatuan, New Lucena, Pototan, Mina, Janiuay, Badiangan, Duenas, Dumangas, Anilao, Banate, San Rafael, Estancia, Leon, Ajuy, Lemery, Balasan, Estancia and Batad.

They are still under monitoring.

New Lucena tops the list with 1,168 hectares of affected rice lands followed by Oton with 1,044 hectares and Mina with 1,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, Engr. Salvador Alipe, chief, crop division said that there is already a decreasing trend in the rat infestation record of the province. He noted that this development was due to the continued rat control campaign and the distribution of pesticide in affected local government units.*