Indonesian authorities in Indramayu Regency, West Java, plan to release 10,000 non-venomous snakes into rice fields as part of an innovative natural pest control program to combat severe rat infestations threatening local crops.
Indramayu Regent Lucky Hakim launched the groundbreaking "Ular Sahabat Tani" (Snake Friends of Farmers) program, targeting the release of harmless snake species including 'koros' (Ptyas korros) and 'lanang sapi' into agricultural areas to naturally control rat populations.
The initiative addresses desperate farmers' concerns over rampant rat infestations causing widespread crop failures across multiple districts, with the rodent population having increased due to the decline of natural predators like snakes in agricultural ecosystems.
Lucky Hakim emphasized that the program represents an environmentally-friendly approach to agricultural pest management, using native, non-venomous snake species that pose no threat to humans while effectively targeting rice field rats as their natural prey.
This ecological solution aims to restore natural balance in farming areas without relying on chemical pesticides, offering sustainable protection for Indonesia's crucial rice production in one of the country's key agricultural regions.
