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If not for rodents, the agricultural produce, profits and also margins could have increased by one-third. Despite wearing an innocuous façade, these little creatures have the capability of multiplying at a rapid rate.

Two rodents, if left to themselves, can produce more than a thousand of their kind in a year. The gang is big enough to gobble up acres of crop, not to think of your tiny garden patch.

Apart from rodents, there are also other reptiles and insects which are harmful, if not to plants, to human beings. Hence, it is absolutely necessary for the health of the garden and also the gardener to keep the surroundings clear of rodents and snakes. The issue of rodents and reptiles assumes even more currency now than ever before as the city is expanding into its peripheries in the process of becoming ‘greater’.

As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Mice have to be cleared before any plant sets its root in the yard. Pest management, if integrated with ground preparation, will go a long way in controlling those unwanted creepy crawlies in the garden.

“One measure of Phorate granules mixed with five measures of Ovis granules and ten measures of neem cake, when applied at the rate of 16 grams per square foot of soil, effectively keeps rodents, scorpions, centipedes, termites and small snakes at bay,” says M.A.A. Ansari, a reputed agri consultant and landscapist from Integrated Farm Services (Ph. 098480 55878). He warns that there could be a possibility of reptile eggs being brought hidden in wet soil and getting hatched there.

The impact of Phorate mixture will not leave the soil for a month or so, thereby giving the plants enough breathing time. After that, it is the gardener’s responsibility to tackle the pests as and when they attack.

Roban chemical cakes are ideal bait for ordinary mice because they kill them far from the yard. The cakes should be cut into small pieces and kept at strategic locations so that the mice will nibble at them. The chemical will have a maddening effect on the rat by attacking its central nervous system.

Within hours, the rat will run away from the location to breathe its last somewhere else.

“Rats normally scurry along the sides and it is always more yielding to place the cake in corners,” Dr. Ansari gives a tip.

Mice may be naïve, but one can not expect the same with bandicoots. One needs more sophisticated attempt with them as they are too shrewd to bite into the bait. First, they have to be initiated to the habit of eating plain rice bran, broken rice or rice flour.

“Mix 490 grams of the rice mix in 20 millilitres of edible oil and place it in the chosen location for two consecutive days. Add 10 grams of Zinc Phosphide or Aluminium Phosphide to the mix on the third day which will kill the bandicoot,” advises Mr.Ansari.

However, care should be taken not to make water available for the rodent after its last supper. Another method is to identify the hideout and drop two Cellphos tablets along with a few millilitres of water.

The hole should be closed airtight so as not to allow either the poisonous fumes or the mouse to escape. Those who are sensitive to the scent of the fumes may use 200 grams of Carbofuron 3G instead of Cellphos.

All the remedies for bandicoots apply equally to snakes. However, one cannot risk one’s life by putting the tablets directly into the hole.

A pipe pushed five to six feet inside the hole may be used to drop the tablets and water.

Pre-baited pads placed at strategic locations will capture rodents, snakes and insects by fixing them to the high quality glue.

Another way to avoid the rodents and reptiles is to fill all the holes with sand as it will hinder the creatures from boring holes.

“The best way to keep snakes away from gardens and farm houses is to make the surroundings unfriendly for them,” says M.M. Hussain, Managing Director of Plants Land Nursery (Ph: 098480 24654).

Keeping the garden as clean as possible goes a long way in ruling out snakes as it will eliminate hideouts, he says.

“Avoid thick bushes, shrubs and hedges. Grow trees instead and prune the foliage regularly. Do not leave dry leaves on the floor. Remove weeds. Trim the lawn regularly,” Mr. Hussain hurls a slew of instructions. Constructing a raised platform around the garden with a jutting top will make it difficult for rodents and snakes to climb up, he says.

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