| More
Information |
|
|
| Name |
Kamalaben Chhotubhai Patel |
|
|
| Address |
Dist:Valsad |
|
|
| District |
Valsad |
|
|
| Title |
Rat Control by Hoodwinking them! |
|
|
| Abstract |
In Panchmahal, one to two foot long black coloured pods of `Garmala' (Cassia fistula) are also used for the same purpose and with the same logic.:Ed |
|
|
| Details |
Paddy is attacked by rats at its ripening stage. To scare away the rats farmers use the branches of wild `suran' (also called `dhudhlo'). They remove the leaves and then slit the stems vertically in two halves with a sickle and cut them up to small pieces 10 to 15 cm long. These pieces are scattered around the field on the border and bunds at a distance of 2 to 3 metres. The pieces are placed in such a way that its dorsal side remains up. The stem surface which resembles the skin of locally found species of snake is believed to scare the rats away. In Banaskanth, farmers cut three to four foot long stems of calotropis and heat them in fire so that it becomes black. The blackened stems are kept around fields to scare away rats, the reasoning is same as believed in the above method. Wild `suran' (Amarphophalbus commulatus) grows in wastelands and forests. It has big leaves like the colocasia. Since the stem causes irritation on touch, one has to handle it with care. It bears a tuber which is used for vegetative propagation. Approximately half of the population knows about this practice. The local farmers say it is a very effective method to scare rats. |
|
|
| Volume No. |
Honey Bee,5(1):19,1994 |
|
|
| Sout |
Vinod C Patel |
|
|
| Call Number |
270/5105 |
