Monsoon favourable, but rodent invasion worries farmers

Although a favourable monsoon this year brought cheers to farmers after last year's drought-like situation, rodents have taken away their sleep invading one paddy field after another across the half of Nagaland.

Official reports said standing crops in Mokokchung and Wokha districts, where summer crops have been the mainstay, were destroyed by rats.

The situation is alarming as swarms of rat invading fields and devouring crops in the nights have been reported everyday, district agriculture officer of Mokokchung, Bendangtemsu, said.

Officials said following flowering of a bamboo species 'Ashi' (Bambusa Pallida) by the Ao Naga community and subsequent infestation by rat population in paddy fields and farms were reported from many villages.

Departmental officers and field staff were closely monitoring the situation by visiting the affected villages, Bendangtemsu said adding that two mini trucks loaded with chemicals such as Ruban, Ratol and Ecodon were being distributed in the affected villages to control the increasing population of rats.

The department is also considering procuring Zinc Phosphate to control the menace. However, the department has asked the villagers to use it only in emergency situations because the chemical is poisonous for other mammals, birds and insects.