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Field Survey of Squirrels Attacking Fruits and Vegetables at Different Locations in Bangladesh

A. T.M. Hassanuzzaman
Senior Scientific Officer
VPD,BARI,Gazipur

MD. Yousuf Mian
Ex DG, BARI
IPM_CRSP,HRC,BARI,Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A questionnaire survey on squirrel problem was conducted among the farmers of two districts in Bangladesh. About 68% farmers reported one species and 24% farmers reported two species. According to the farmers, vegetables, cereals and fruit crops are frequently damage by the squirrels. It causes severe damage to rice (53.16%) and wheat (40.51%). Most affected vegetable crops are bottle gourd (27.78%), bean (25.69%), cucumber (26.39%) and sweet gourd (12.5%). Among the fruit crops maximum damage occur in coconut (29.86%) followed by nut (17.36%), Guava ( 11.11%) and Jack fruit (8.33%). Average loss per farmer was reported to be Tk. 225.7 per year. Maximum damage occur during the immature stage (46.91%) of the crop in winter season (81.03%). Farmers were not sure about the breeding frequency (84 Parturition usually took place in the nest on the trees (55.36%). Most popular control method to the farmers was poison baiting (26.73%) followed by beating (19.80%) and netting (19.40%).

Keywords: Field survey, squirrels, fruits and vegetables,

Location: Naogaon and Natore districts

Start Date: 01-08-2001

End Date: 30-06-2002

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity:

Objectives:

To understand the status of squirrel as a pest, crops they damage most and to gain some basic reproductive in formation through a questionnaire survey among the farmers in different districts of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

A questionnaire survey on squirrel problem was conducted among the farmers of two districts of Bangladesh . The surveyed districts are Naogaon (Manda) and Natore ( Singra). Scientists of Vertebrate Pest Division took the farmers interview with a prescribed questionnaire sheet. It includes different questions on species composition, crops damaged by the squirrels, intensity of damage, amount of loss, breeding season, number of parturition per year, control method used etc. All questionnaire sheets were carefully compiled, summarized and presented in different tables.

Source of Information: VPD Annual report-2001-02, BARI

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) : Twenty thousands

Achievement/Findings:

Farmers reported three colour variation among the squirrel. There are stripped (69.57%), brown (21.74%) and white (8.70%). Squirrels usually damage fruits and vegetables crops. In this survey, it was found that squirrels caused severe damage to different cereals e.g. rice ( 53.16%) and wheat (40.51%). According to the survey, maximum damage in vegetable crops occur in the bottle gourd (28.57%) and bean (26.43%) followed by cucumber (24.29%) and sweet gourd (12.86%). Among the fruit crops, maximum damage occur in coconut (29.86%) followed by nut (17.36%), mango (12.5%), guava (11.11%) jackfruit ( 8.33%), lithci (6.25%), tamarind (4.86%), banana (2.08%), papaya (1.39%) and pineapple (0.69%). Maximum farmer reported the loss by the squirrel was 5-20% and was about 300 Tk../year/family. Maximum damage occur at the immature stage of the crop (46.91%) followed by full grown (28.40%) and ripening stage (24.69%). Farmers reported maximum squirrel activity during noon (42.68%) and afternoon (34.15%). According to the interview, squirrel give birh in the nest on the branch of tree (55.36%), while 23.21% farmers reported on the top of date tree. About 74% farmers reported that they does not know about the number of youngs per parturition.. Farmers reported two breeding peaks, one is in January-March (7.41%) and another in April-June (5.56%). Farmers proposed beating by stick, use of poison bait, use of trap, use of catapul (gulti) and netting etc

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings