Ducks’ natural alternative to pesticides

• Have you ever applied a moisturizer to your skin to make it less dry and then suffered from oily skin issues? Or did you try makeup to look good which damaged your skin even more?

  Pesticides affect land in the same way as these products do to your skin.

  Are you wondering what is the solution to this problem? Don’t worry we have got you covered.

  In this blog, we will understand how ducks act as natural pesticides for land without ruining its texture. Ducks are the most environment-friendly solution for this purpose.

  You may be wondering “What the duck?”

  Yes, ducks. They are the most natural and sustainable solution for the problem of pests on crops.

  But how do they work?

  Ducks target specific pests in a very systematic manner and help avoid harmful effects, unlike pesticides. Farmers make all efforts to control pests and pesticides are considered an important solution. But while we take on the challenge of producing pest-free crops it is also important to ensure that the yield is harmless. The use of pesticides is detrimental to soil health and their chemicals can prove to be toxic for consumption by humans and animals.

  To overcome this, we must switch to practices that are harmless to the environment and living beings. The use of ducks for this job is a very effective solution for this purpose. It is not just an environment-friendly solution but is also a sustainable way of handling problems in farming.

  A most important difference in comparison of both techniques is that pesticides are spread across the fields in large quantities and it is not just spread to pest-affected regions but are widely used thus leading to loss of land quality and ill effects on consumption of such crops by animals and humans.

  Ducks on the other hand eat unnecessary pests and weeds which are hampering the growth of crops. They target specific areas and eat selected types of insect pests without damaging the crops.

  Now how can we incorporate ducks into farming activities?

We can take the following steps to implement the use of ducks in the fields:

• Field Preparation:

  Farmers create a favorable environment for the forage of ducks in the field. The implementation of ducks is mainly done in the rice fields. Rice fields are first flooded and made appealing to the ducks so that they forage in the fields and help rice plants grow. The use of ducks is mainly done in rice fields as ducks work better in water-logged fields.

  Duck management:

  It is important to manage these ducks according to their abilities. The better the management the better the results. They can be placed in the fields with fencing to help tactfully manage the vegetation growth.

  Monitoring:

  It is important to observe the duck's activities in the field and to guide them in the right direction from time to time. The use of ducks may fail to solve the purpose if not managed and monitored accurately. This will ensure the application of ducks in the right direction and environment.

  What are the challenges faced by farmers while deploying ducks for the activity?

  Now let us understand the challenges involved in the application of this sustainable initiative.

  Cost and implementation:

  While starting this type of pest control function it may become costly at the initial level. It is important to maintain livestock and manage it well. This may lead to the appointment of personnel responsible for the tracking and monitoring of ducks. Also, the loss of ducks in large quantities can affect the productivity in farming where pesticides are not used.

  Disease management:

  As explained above, the ducks may easily be affected by disease on large scale. This may lead to loss of livestock in excess quantity leading to monetary loss along with mismanagement. Unforeseen conditions can have a greater impact on both the environment and fields at large.

  Crop Damage:

  While ducks are good for pests, they may also become harmful to other crops and weeds which are part of agricultural yield. This is because the activity of ducks in the field can damage the crops to a greater extent. Also, if the ducks are not well managed and trained it can become a major problem to track and monitor their activities leading to loss.

  Thus, using ducks as a natural alternative to pesticides is a viable and sustainable agricultural practice that offers numerous benefits. It reduces the reliance on chemical inputs, enhances soil health, and promotes biodiversity. However, successful implementation requires careful planning, management, and monitoring to ensure the benefits outweigh the challenges.