June 8, 2012

Agricultural officials in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, a major centre for the country's grain production, have started a rodent control programme that will likely add 375,000 tonnes more of grain output for 2012.

Workers will undertake rodent exterminating measures across 667,000 hectares of farmland in 40 counties, cities and districts, where rice, corn and soy are mainly produced, according to the deratisation programme issued by the provincial agricultural department on Wednesday (June 6).

Specific measures include spraying ecology-friendly rodenticide, placing traps and attracting the vermin's natural enemies such as eagles.

Highly toxic rodenticide will be prohibited under the programme, however.

With these measures, farmers are expected to save grain worth about RMB750 million (US$118 million).