[hepr-vn] UN BREEDING BARN OWLS TO STAMP OUT CROP-EATING RODENTS IN LAOS

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: UN BREEDING BARN OWLS TO STAMP OUT CROP-EATING RODENTS IN LAOS
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:00:05 -0400
From: UNNews <UNNews at un.org>
Reply-To: unnews at un.org
To: <news2 at secint00.un.org>

UN BREEDING BARN OWLS TO STAMP OUT CROP-EATING RODENTS IN LAOS
New York, Jul 17 2009  7:00PM

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is breeding barn owls 
under an innovative new programme that hopes to deter rodents from attacking 
crops in northern Laos.

Rats in Laos turned their attention to crops last year, with devastating results 
for farmers, after bamboo plants flowered and the number of bamboo seeds 
decreased as a result. To prevent a repeat of that situation, 
<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO is using the barn owl, a natural predator, to control 
the rodent population.

Serge Verniau, the agency’s representative in Laos, told UN Radio yesterday that 
FAO is not promoting rodenticide, but rather using the barn owl “to mitigate the 
risk and to avoid other outbreaks.”

The three-year scheme, he stressed, requires the cooperation of farmers.

At present, the initiative – the pilot version of which will be launched next 
month – has no donor support, but Mr. Verniau voiced hope that support will be 
forthcoming because “business as usual” can no longer continue.
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