Mizoram Faces Agricultural Crisis Due to Rodent Infestation

Urgent Action Required to Address Crop Damage

Aizawl, Oct 13: The government of Mizoram is calling for immediate action to combat the extensive damage inflicted on paddy and other crops due to an alarming increase in rodent populations. PC Vanlalruata, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, stated that his department has urged the State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DM&R) Department to classify the crop destruction as a state disaster.

Vanlalruata highlighted that although the government has recently secured an insurance provider for crop protection, farmers affected by the rodent invasion—triggered by the ecological event known as ‘Thingtam’—might not qualify for coverage. This is because the insurance policy was only finalized last Friday after a significant delay.

The ‘Thingtam’ phenomenon, a rare ecological occurrence associated with the mass flowering of ‘bambusa tulda’ (rawthing bamboo), has resulted in a significant increase in rodent populations. Large numbers of rats have devastated paddy fields and various crops throughout Mizoram. While crop insurance may not cover these damages, Vanlalruata mentioned that farmers could still receive compensation if the DM&R Department officially recognizes ‘Thingtam’ as a state-specific disaster.

Efforts to control the rodent population are currently in progress, with mass poisoning initiatives launched in the most affected regions. The Agriculture Department has provided rodenticides to farmers to help manage the infestation and mitigate further crop losses.

Approximately 4,000 households across 130 villages in all 11 districts have reported significant crop damage, with paddy being the most severely impacted. Other crops, including maize, sugarcane, cowpea, ginger, eggplant, chili, pumpkin, sesame, and cucumber, have also been affected in various areas. To date, 1,737.354 hectares of paddy fields have been lost out of a total of 6,869.954 hectares under cultivation.

The increase in rodent numbers signifies the return of the ‘Thingtam’ event, which occurs approximately every 48 years. The last occurrence in 1977 resulted in similar destruction, and this year's infestation has rekindled memories of that crisis throughout Mizoram.

Correspondent