Mizoram govt worried over rodent attack in paddy fields

Aizawl: The state agriculture department is concerned over a massive rodent attack in the crop lands at Rengdil, a village in the Mizoram-Tripura border and its neighbouring hamlets in Mamit district in the past few weeks. Over 10 families have lost their entire paddy harvest, deputy director (plant protection), state agriculture department, J Rokima said.
The enormous infestation was reportedly because of the flowering of two bamboo species, locally known as 'Rawnal' (a Dendrocalamus species) and Rawthing (Bambusa Tulda), Rokima added.
Over 159 families have been affected because of the attack in 'Tai' or early paddy, the harvesting of which starts in the latter part of August, he added.
A team from the agriculture department visited the area and undertook an operation of mass poisoning of rats.
The outbreak came as a surprise as the next 'Thingtam' or flowering of Bambusa Tulda is not due till 2025, an agriculture department official said and added that the last 'Thingtam' occurred in 1977 and is expected to recur after 48 years.
Rokima said while different bamboo species died and regenerated in a cycle of around 48 or 50 years, some older Bambusa Tulda plants were probably dying in the north western area of the state before the mass flowering.
He said no such bamboo flowering was reported from anywhere in the state during the past few months. 'Mautam', famine caused by gregarious flowering of 'Mautak' or Melocanna Baccifera hit the state in 2007-08 when swarms of rats ravaged paddy fields across Mizoram, triggering famine-like situation. Timely financial assistance from the Centre and massive preparations by the state saved the people and no one died during the famine.
It might be recalled that 20-year-long insurgency since 1966 was caused by 'Mautam' that hit Mizoram in 1958.