Kotabaru, Tanah Bumbu with Army Control Rats Pest

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - Food Crops and Horticulture Protection (PTPH) Region Kotabaru and Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, in synergy with the Army (TNI-AD) and farmers to control rats pest.

Head of the PTPH Laboratory Tanah Bumbu and Kotabaru Fahmi here on Saturday said that the mice pest control are in order to optimize agricultural production.

"Mice pest control took place in an area of 19 hectares in the village of Langadai, Kelumpang Hilir Sub-district, in the early days of planting rice," he said.

Fahmi revealed pest control, particularly rat, is a program to minimize losses caused by the rat, which reduces the yield of rice production.

"Hopefully with pest and disease control program to minimize the farmers losses of crop damage caused by pests, especially rats," he said.

Members of local farmers group, Marno, said beside rats, the crucial problems faced by farmers in the region is the availability of water to irrigate rice crops in the fields.

"We expect an irrigation or reservoirs to overcome the problem of water availability" said Marno.

Kotabaru pest and disease control coordinator Siti Sa`adah said with the help of pests and diseases drugs given are expected to motivate farmers to obtain maximum yields.