Vol. 11, Special Issue 11 (2022)

Rodents are serious non-insect pests in some coastal areas of Odisha damaging green tender nuts of coconut palms. Roof rat, Rattus rattus L. is the most dangerous rodent species that cause a hole near the perianth region of tender nuts and drink the water content. A survey was conducted in some areas of Coastal Odisha during the year 2015-2016 to know the per cent rodent infested palms and nut damage. Field evaluation of various management practices against rodent damage (Crown baiting with bromadiolone (0.005%) wax blocks, trunk banding with polyester slippery sheet, trunk banding with G.I sheet, trunk banding with polyethylene sheet and untreated check) revealed that all the treatments gave excellent control of nut fall during the 10 months of study. The highest per cent reduction in nut fall over pre-treatment count as well as untreated check i.e. 99.86% and 99.88% was recorded in trunk banding with G.I sheet respectively followed by polyester slippery sheet i.e. 99.79% and 99.82% respectively. The incremental cost: benefit ratio was found to be highest in case of crown baiting with bromadiolone (0.005%) wax blocks (1:5.12) followed by trunk banding with polyester slippery sheet (1: 2.07). Thus farmers can be advised to adopt this practice for better management of rodent damage as well as for deriving high profit. Our training on various social engineering activities against rodent control was adopted by maximum farmers giving a positive impact. However further training on rodent damage and their management is required for generating awareness.