By Kenneth Marcos 
At night, when rice fields fall quiet, a different kind of activity begins. Rats come out of their burrows, moving quickly through paddies in search of young rice plants and grains. For many farmers, this silent damage often goes unnoticed until losses are already high.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is reminding rice farmers to take early and organized action against rat infestations, which remain one of the major causes of crop losses in many rice-producing areas across the country. Experts warn that without proper control, rats can destroy large portions of a field in a short time, directly affecting farmers’ income and food supply.
According to PhilRice, rats are most active at night and reproduce quickly, making them difficult to control once their population grows. A single pair of rats can multiply into dozens within months if left unmanaged. This is why early intervention, especially during land preparation and the early stages of planting, is critical.
One of the first steps recommended is trimming and cleaning the pilapil, or field dikes. Shorter and cleaner pilapil make it easier to spot rat burrows and pathways. Overgrown weeds and tall grasses provide rats with hiding places, allowing them to move freely and build nests near rice fields.
PhilRice also advises farmers to flood rat burrows with a mixture of water and mud. This method forces rats out of their holes and disrupts their nesting sites. Farmers are encouraged to repeat this process whenever new burrows appear, as rats are known to rebuild quickly.
Another effective approach is organized rat hunting, or collective trapping, especially at night when rats are most active. PhilRice stresses the importance of doing this as a group, with at least three people, to ensure safety and effectiveness. Adequate lighting should be used, and activities can be conducted from planting time up to one month after transplanting, when rice plants are most vulnerable.
Proper land preparation also plays a key role. Plowing dry soil and keeping fields dry before the next planting season can destroy rat burrows and reduce breeding sites. This practice helps lower the rat population even before rice is planted.
The careful and responsible use of rodenticides is another option, but PhilRice warns that this should only be done correctly and with caution. Rat poison should be applied only when there is no available food in the field, such as before planting, to ensure effectiveness. Improper use can harm other animals, contaminate the environment, and pose risks to humans.
PhilRice emphasizes that rat management works best when done at the community level. If only one farmer controls rats while neighboring fields are left unmanaged, rats will simply move from one area to another. Coordinated action among farmers within the same irrigation system or village can significantly reduce rat damage.
Studies have shown that rats can cause yield losses ranging from 5 to more than 15 percent, and even higher in severe cases. For small-scale farmers, this loss can mean reduced income, difficulty paying debts, and added pressure on household food security.
With rising production costs and ongoing challenges from climate change, protecting crops from preventable pests is more important than ever. PhilRice continues to encourage farmers to combine traditional knowledge with science-based practices to safeguard their harvests.
By staying alert, working together, and applying proper rat management techniques early, farmers can protect their rice fields and ensure that their hard work is not wasted.
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