The natural enemies of rodents are now enlisted to fight and control the populations of pests.
Biological control was done naturally, to a large extent in Cyprus, but today it is also achieved through human intervention, especially by promoting natural enemies to protect various crops. The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is proceeding with the implementation of a program for biological control of rodents in livestock areas.
Under the “National Action Plan (NAP) for Rodent Management using the Hummingbird”, with an annual budget of €65,000, a program of targeted placement of artificial hummingbird nests is being implemented in all provinces with emphasis on rodent-affected crop areas.
At the same time, efforts are being made to raise awareness among the farming community of the importance of biological control and the need to reduce the use of chemical preparations, which are often used uncontrollably in the countryside.
The results of the implementation of the program are already very encouraging. Since 2020, when the Project was gradually implemented, the production of rodenticide by the Department of Agriculture and, by extension, its use by the beneficiaries has decreased by 55%. This reduction brings the State savings to around €130,000 compared to previous years with the environmental benefit being immeasurable. It is indicative that communities, which in the past used very large quantities of rodenticide, are now fighting rodents solely by using hummingbirds.
In this context, building on the experience and the positive results of the NAP in the regions where it has been implemented, the Ministry of Agriculture considers that this effort should be extended to other professional groups of the rural world, such as livestock farmers.
The program also aims to control rodents more economically and safely for both livestock and the environment.hummingbird nests. rodent control, biological control, hummingbird nests