JAKARTA, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Indonesian authorities in Indramayu Regency, West Java, are planning to release 10,000 non-venomous snakes into paddy fields to combat rat infestations that threaten rice crops.
The snakes, locally known as ‘koros’ and ‘lanang sapi’, are harmless to humans and act as natural predators, reducing farmers’ reliance on chemical pesticides.
Indramayu Regent Lucky Hakim led the release of hundreds of snakes under the “Snakes: Farmers’ Friends” programme in Sindang subdistrict on Saturday.
“Snakes effectively reduce rats in the fields and protect harvests without harming the environment,” he said, according to a statement by Indramayu Information Department.
The authorities also provide guidance to farmers on handling the snakes.
The rice-harvested area in Indramayu, one of West Java’s largest rice-producing regions, covered 212,297 hectares last year.
Farmers have welcomed the initiative after learning about its ecological benefits, particularly as rat-related crop losses remain a major challenge in the region.
-- BERNAMA
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