At first glance, Lalay Cave in Pelabuhan Ratu district, Sukabumi regency, West Java, looks like any other ancient rock. It’s apparently forlorn and parched. Life in the hollow is dominated by hundreds of thousands of bats which regularly exit the cave before sunset and return just before sunrise. Few tourists have observed this natural phenomenon. A closer look reveals an unexpected human routine undertaken by man over the last 17 years.
Rudi GL, 41, a Jayapadi village resident exploits guano or bat excrement and sells it as organic fertilizer. Along with eight assistants he gathers the bat droppings every three to four months annually. “A harvest yields a maximum of around five tons of pure guano. We sell it for Rp 1,500 [16 US cents] per kilogram to customers,” said Rudi. The only constraint on this rare business is the wet season.
“If the rainy season lasts long, the harvest is not as big as normal. It decreases considerably,” added Rudi. With its typical odor of ammonia, guano is indeed effective for the vigorous growth of crops to achieve maximum productivity. Orders have even come from areas as far as Lampung province to support horticultural ventures.
source : the jakarta post
source : the jakarta post
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