An invasive species with a density of over 200 individuals per square meter, causing damage worth 10 trillion VND each year. This has prompted China to mobilize nearly 3 million chickens. What is this species?
The frightening invasive species in question is the locust (scientific name: Caelifera). This is a pest that harms agricultural production. Wherever they migrate, the vegetation suffers greatly.
According to experts, locusts can consume more than three times their body weight in just one day. Although locusts primarily feed on grasses, corn leaves, and rice, they are quite selective eaters. They particularly prefer the tender middle parts of stems and leaves, making them highly detrimental to food crops.
Notably, once there is a conducive breeding environment, locusts can easily reproduce and turn into a disaster. Consequently, since ancient times, humans have sought various methods to combat the invasion of this species.
Locusts are insects that cause damage to agricultural production.
In fact, 22 years ago, China implemented a special “biological” method to eradicate locusts on a large scale. This method not only caused no harm to the environment but also helped farmers increase their income.
Specifically, since 2001, people in China have used chickens to eliminate locusts.
At that time, a locust plague was rampant in the grasslands of Hebei (China). According to local residents, the locust density reached over 200 individuals per square meter.
Many crops were destroyed by locusts. The economic damage caused by the locust plague exceeded 30 million CNY (over 100 billion VND). To prevent this damage, residents of Fengning County in Hebei prepared to implement some chemical and biological preventive measures.
The chemical method involved spraying pesticides. However, due to the significant ecological damage caused by these chemicals, their usage gradually decreased. The biological method involved using chickens and ducks to eliminate locust swarms.
Ultimately, local residents opted for chickens to combat locusts. Chickens are considered natural predators of locusts. Therefore, similar to raising horses and sheep, chicken farming became a major project for local farmers aimed at eradicating locusts and increasing income.
Furthermore, over time, residents realized that raising chickens not only helped eliminate locusts but also made the chicken meat firmer and tastier. As a result, this type of chicken sold at a higher price compared to regular farmed chicken.
What challenges do farmers face when raising chickens to eliminate locusts?
Local farmers must solve 3 issues when raising chickens to eliminate locusts.
Experts indicate that when raising chickens to eliminate locusts, local farmers face three main issues.
- First, is any type of chicken suitable for free-range locust elimination?
- Second, when is the best time to raise chickens for locust control?
- Third, how can chickens be trained to follow human instructions when eating locusts and then return?
Confronted with these three issues, the residents of Hebei proposed optimal solutions.
- Firstly, they selected chicken breeds with large feet, strong walking ability, and fast running speed.
- Secondly, the timing for raising chickens to eliminate locusts depends on the developmental stages of the locusts. According to scientific research, locusts at ages two and three consume less and have undeveloped wings. At this age, they cause less damage, making it the best time for control.
However, young chicks cannot undertake the task of chasing and eating locusts immediately after birth. Instead, the optimal age for chickens to eliminate locusts is when they are 90 days old.
Chicks cannot take on the task of large-scale locust elimination.
- Third, becoming a chicken specialized in locust elimination is not easy. It requires a training process. Farmers will organize these special training sessions. Each training session requires about 500 to 1,000 chickens.
Farmers will take the chickens to the grasslands and set up tents as “temporary dormitories“. They will train the chickens to move around the tent according to instructions and operate within a 500-meter radius. This way, the chickens will not get lost. Farmers also use whistles to signal the gathering of chickens when necessary.
To establish a habit, farmers begin whistling from when the chickens are very young to teach them to gather. The duration and frequency of the whistle signals must be appropriate to avoid confusing the chickens.
China mobilizes nearly 3 million chickens to combat locusts
China once mobilized nearly 3 million chickens to combat locusts.
According to experts, an adult chicken can eat more than 70 locusts in one day. Therefore, if a large flock of chickens is assembled for this task, the locust problem can be resolved quickly.
By 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture in China mobilized 10 regions, including Hebei, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu, to raise chickens for locust control. Accordingly, 12,500 farmers and livestock breeders mobilized nearly 3 million chickens to manage over 14 million acres of grassland.
Thanks to these chickens, economic damage to the grasslands was reduced by 127 million CNY (approximately over 424 billion VND) and the average income of each household increased by nearly 6,500 CNY (over 21 million VND). Using chickens to respond to locust plagues is indeed an optimal solution that has proven effective in China.
