Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on rat management of Ifugao rice farmers,

Philippines B.M. Catudan, R.C. Joshi, E.B. Gergon, N.V. Desamero, L.S. Sebastian,Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Maligaya, Muñoz Science City, 3119

Nueva Ecija: J.C. Cabigat, Local Government Unit (LGU), Banaue, Ifugao; andA. Cayong, LGU, Hungduan, Ifugao, Philippines

In the Ifugao rice terraces (IRT), farmers consistently rank rats as their most important biotic constraint to rice crop production (Joshi et al 2000). However, these farmers’ sociodemographic characteristics and existing knowledge, attitudes, and practices on rat management are undocumented. Hence, prior to introducing the community-trap barrier system (C-TBS) in two Ifugao municipalities, Banaue and Hungduan, PhilRice and the towns’ local government units (LGUs) initiated a baseline survey in November 2002.

Thirty randomly selected respondents from the master lists of farmers in each of the two towns were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, averages, and ranges. Multivariate and correlation analyses were also used to identify indicators associated with rat management.

The farmers’ average ages were 49 and 45 for Banaue and Hungduan, respectively. The majority were married and had an average of 24 years of rice farming experience. All respondents regarded rat damage as their first or second most serious problem in rice production (Table 1), and they had the least control over it compared with other production problems.

They claimed that rats are destructive year-round and that all of their neighboring farmers also complained of rat damage. All respondents in Banaue and 43% in Hungduan had no idea about what gives rise to the seasonal abundance of rats in their fields (see figure). In Banaue, rats move from fields to farmers’ households during harvest and stay on until rice is sown again. In Hungduan, rats are found in households year-round.

Rice yield losses from rat damage reached 50% in Banaue and 38% for the first crop and 75% for the second crop in Hungduan (Table 2). Rat management strategies employed by farmers were sanitation and rodenticide baiting, but these did not reduce rat damage because the frequency and timing of interventions coincided with peaks in the rat population.

Sanitation of terrace walls was done 1 month after of sowing in both Banaue and Hungduan. On the other hand, 53% (Banaue) and 47% (Hungduan) of the farmers applied rodenticides about 2 months before harvest. Both interventions were done individually by farmers. Most Banaue farmers who used rodenticides were from 41 to 60 years old; their Hungduan counterparts were 21 to 40 years old. More educated farmers and those who had alternative sources of income were more likely to use rodenticides. Unlike in the lowlands, IRT farmers did not eat field rats.

Most LGU technicians advised farmers to apply rodenticides after planting, while only a few advised farmers to clean the areas surrounding their fields.

Table 1. Farmers’ ranking of various rice pest problems in Banaue and Hungduan, Ifugao riceterraces, Philippines.

Location/pest n a/ % n % n % n % n % n %Banaue

Rodents 19 63 10 33 29 97Insect pests 4 13 10 33 1 3 15 50

Blast/other diseases 1 3 1 3Snails 10 33 14 47 4 13 28 93

Weeds 1 3 1 3Total, by rank, Banaue 29 28 15 1 1 74

HungduanRodents 26 87 4 13 30 100

Insect pests 5 17 15 50 2 7 1 3 23 77Blast/other diseases 4 13 20 67 4 13 28 93

Snails 2 7 1 3 3 10Weeds 4 13 8 27 4 13 16 53

Total, by rank, Hungduan 30 29 25 11 5 100a/ n = number of farmers.

Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4 Rank 5 Total, by response

Table 2. Crop loss due to rats, Banaue and Hungduan, Ifugao rice terraces, Philippines.

Item n a/ Mean ± SE Minimum Maximum n a/ Mean ± SE Minimum MaximumDamaged tillers

1st cropping 27 10 ± 12.2 2 50 29 22 ± 10.9 2 602nd cropping 14 37 ± 26.7 16 95

Yield loss1st cropping 29 18 ± 12.3 2 50 30 9 ± 6.8 1 38

2nd cropping 8 30 ± 22.5 14 75a/ n = number of farmers interviewed.

Banaue Hungduan

Catudan BM, RC Joshi, EB Gergon, NV Desamero, LS Sebastian, JC Cabigat, A Cayong. 2003. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on rat management of Ifugao rice farmers, Philippines. International Rice Research Notes 28 (2) 62-63.