The Regional Director for Agriculture stated today that the Regional Government wants to improve the level of knowledge of farmers on the best practices of integrated rodent control with the aim of modernising the negative impacts of this pest on farms and agricultural crops.
 
"The results of the survey conducted on large dairy farms on São Miguel Island point to the need of proceeding with actions towards the compliance with the current legislation, but also with training and information sessions on integrated rodent control," said José Élio Ventura.
 
The Regional Director spoke at the end of a visit to a dairy farm in the municipality of Ponta Delgada. According to him, "38% of survey respondents reported the implementation of a rodent control plan and 58% claimed they had no knowledge on the current regional legislation on rodent control."
 
The survey aimed to assess farmers' perceptions of rodent problems on farms and the degree of knowledge about their legal obligations regarding rodent control.
 
The universe of farmers covered by this survey took into account their size, the existence of facilities installed on their farms and stored foods and their requirement to implement a rodent control plan, according with the legislation in force.
 
"The vast majority of farmers said they choose to combat rodents, firstly with rodenticides and subsequently using cats on farms," stated the Regional Director. As he added, "only a small group of farmers mentioned the adoption of anti-rodent measures, namely in terms of good cleaning practices, food storage and the use of traps."
 
Following the survey, technical visits to various agricultural and livestock farms on the island of São Miguel are under way for an informal verification of compliance with the mandatory procedures defined in the Handbook of Good Control Practices for the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
 
"This measure aims to raise farmers' awareness for the need to adopt good practices on a preventive basis and to implement rodent control plans to avoid damage caused by its presence on farms," José Élio Ventura said, defending that the initiative will be extended to other islands.
 
In the last three years, the Regional Government invested nearly 390 thousand Euros in the acquisition of 130 tonnes of rodenticide to combat the proliferation of rats, an effort that has been undertaken in full coordination with municipalities and village councils.