Increase in rodent population destroys crops, paddies in Mizoram

Several crops and paddy have been destroyed in different parts of Mizoram following an increase in rodent population believed to be a pre-symptom of the ‘Thingtam’ or flowering of Bambusa Tulda due in 2025.

In view of this, farmers in Serchhip district, led by Agriculture department officials, carried out wide-scale poisoning of rodents on Wednesday that started attacking paddy fields in Zawlpui area in the district.

Assistant district agriculture officer Lalrinawma gave practical training on how to use rat poison to the farmers in the paddy fields and distributed rat poison to the farmers.

Agriculture officials said the rodent population explosion has created severe hardships for the farming community in Mizoram as 524.31 hectares of paddy fields have been infested by swarms of rats, which is believed to be the result of the cyclic bamboo flowering.

After ravaging paddies in the jhum or the hill areas in the Serchhip district, rodents have now started attacking wet rice cultivation in low-lying areas in the district.

State agriculture officials said that rodents have ravaged paddy fields belonging to at least 104 families in 8 districts of Mizoram.

Officials added that 255.7 hectares of paddy fields belonging to 19 families in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district have been ravaged, followed by 198 hectares of paddy fields belonging to 28 lands being damaged in Mamit district.