Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto has fulfilled his promise to send 1,000 owls (Strigiformes) to farmers in Majalengka Regency, West Java. These owls will help combat the rat infestations that farmers have long complained about.
Previously, during a grand harvest event in Randegan Wetan Village, Majalengka Regency, on April 7, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto pledged to provide owls to farmers in the region. This assistance was offered in response to farmers’ concerns over the increasing rat population when applying the Water-Saving Rice Irrigation (IPHA) technology, which has been proven to significantly increase rice yields.
In several regions, owls have traditionally been used to control rat pests in rice fields. These raptors are nocturnal hunters, active at night in search of prey. With their large eyes capable of seeing in total darkness and heads that can rotate up to 270 degrees, owls are fierce when hunting rats. In addition, their extremely sharp hearing and ability to fly silently make them highly effective predators. On average, an owl can consume 3 to 10 rats per night, depending on their size.
Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo, in an official statement on Sunday (April 20, 2025), stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s assistance is highly relevant and supports the successful implementation of the Water-Saving Rice Irrigation (IPHA) technology, which has already proven to significantly boost rice production.
Dody explained that IPHA is an innovation in rice cultivation that regulates irrigation cycles through intermittent watering. This technology is believed to save up to 30% of water while increasing rice productivity by up to 169% compared to conventional methods. However, the method is vulnerable to rat disturbances. Therefore, with the owls provided by President Prabowo Subianto, the rat problem can be addressed naturally and in an environmentally friendly way, without the use of rodenticides.
