sustainable rodent control for subsistence farmers in south africa

SUSTAINABLE RODENT CONTROL FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

E.F. von Maltitz, F. Kirsten, P.S. Malebana 1, S.R. Belmain, A.N. Meyer 2,

C.T. Chimimba and A.D.S. Bastos 3

1 ARC-PPRI, South Africa; 2 NRI, University of Greenwich, Kent, UK

3 Mammal Research Institute, Univ Pretoria, South Africa

Technology transfer and promotion of Technology transfer and promotion of ecologically-based and sustainable rodent ecologically-based and sustainable rodent

control strategies in South Africa 2002-2006control strategies in South Africa 2002-2006

Participated:ARC-PPRI

LIMPOPO DEPT AGRIC & ENVIRONMENTNRI (UK)

KZN DEPT AGRIC & ENVIRONM AFFAIRSMAMMAL RI, UNIV PRETORIA

Villagers in Limpopo & KZN-North RegionUNIVERSITY of VENDA for S&T

UNIVERSITY of the NORTH (LIMPOPO)

Funded: DFID CPP

ARC-SRL programme (KZN)

SUSTAINABLE RODENT CONTROL FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

IntroductionMaterials and methodsResultsDiscussion

IntroductionIntroduction

Why can households not effectively control rodents ?

Super Intelligent Rodents ?

Rodent resistance ?

Sleeping Fat Cats ?

South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA – Limpopo Province

SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal North Region

SUSTAINABLE RODENT CONTROL FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

IntroductionMaterial and methodsResultsDiscussion

SurveysSurveys

• Pre- and post-trapping survey• Socio-economic assessment• Anthropological study • Market survey

Baseline data

• Training on rodent trapping and data collecting• Rodent trapping in houses• Crop field trapping• Rodent taxonomy• Cross-cutting with project RatZooMan

Baseline data:Baseline data:Training on trapping and rodent data collectingTraining on trapping and rodent data collecting

Baseline data:Baseline data:Trapping in and around 280 housesTrapping in and around 280 houses

Four crop fields in LimpopoFour crop fields in Limpopo

Baseline data: Rodent identification

Baseline data: RatZooMan

SUSTAINABLE RODENT CONTROL FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

IntroductionMaterials and methodsResultsDiscussion

Surveys

ProvinceMethod Limpopo KwaZulu-NatalRodenticide 37% 41%

Cats 13% 15%

Traps 5% 8%

Sticky traps / glue 1% 1%

Insecticide 1% 1%

Other methods 1% 1%

No control 58% 37%

Methods used by farmers in Limpopo and Methods used by farmers in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal to protect their stored crops KwaZulu-Natal to protect their stored crops

and possessions from rodent damageand possessions from rodent damage

Market survey

Trap success: 80 houses Limpopo

Trap success: 200 houses KZNMvuzini village

0

5

10

15

Oct/Nov Nov/Dec Dec/Jan Jan/Feb

perc

enta

ge tr

ap s

ucce

ss

intensive trapping Control

Tholakele and Ophuzana (control)

05

1015

20253035

Oct/Nov Nov/Dec Dec/Jan Jan/Feb

census period

perc

enta

ge tr

ap s

ucce

ss

intensive trapping (Tholakele)control (Ophuzana)

Rodent community structure: different habitats in houses

Species composition: Rodents trapped in four villages in Limpopo

Small mammals trapped in houses and in crop fields in four villages in Limpopo 2002-2004

Village BBKloof GaPhaahla Nkomo MapateSpecies H F H F H F H F RZMAethomys ineptus X X X X X X XAethomys namaquensis X X XDasymys incomtus XLemniscomys rosalia X X X XMastomys coucha X X X X XMastomys natalensis X X X X XMus musculus X X X X X XMus minutoides XOtomys angoniensis X X X XRattus rattus X X X X X X XRattus tanezumi XRhabdomys pumilio X XSaccostomus campestris X X X XSteatomys sp X XTatera leucogaster X X X XElephantulus sp. XMyosorex sp. X

Rattus tanezumi – first record in South Africa

Rodents trapped in Limpopo crop fields 2002-2004

Crop fields: rodent damage

Rodent zoonosis

RodentsN = 202

DogsN = 34

Plague 0 0Toxoplasmosis 18,3% 52,9%Leptospirosis 6,7% 97%

SUSTAINABLE RODENT CONTROL FOR SUBSISTENCE FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

IntroductionMaterials and methodsResultsDiscussion

Active participation – better understanding

Dissemination of results: feedback

Dissemination of results: radio

Development of public-private service provision: Training

Development of public-private service provision:Improved rodent control tools produced locally

Conclusion