Rodents Destroy Over 40% Paddy Cultivation in Mokokchung

Kohima, Sep 7 : Over 40 per cent of the paddy crop has been totally damaged in various parts of Mokokchung district and many other areas of the state due to the rodent menace following bamboo flowering.

According to official sources over 40 per cent of Jhum paddy cultivation in the terrace fields on the hill slopes were fully eaten up by swarms of rats and mice.

The pests seem to have developed resistance to the rat killer poison provided by the Nagaland Government Agriculture Department.

Five major ranges in the Mokokchung district namely Tzurangkong, Japukong, Changikong, Ongpangkong and Asetkong are the ones severely affected by the rodents. Maximum losses have been reported from almost all the villages under Mangkolemba sub-division.

In Mopungchuket village in the district, with the bamboo flowering clumps in its area, the increasing number of rats have started targeting all types of cultivated crops and the State Agriculture Department is battling to kill the rodents by various means.

The Department is deputing officials and teams throughout the district to study the rodent menace and the areas highly infested by the rodents.

The bamboo flowering and rodent menace was last seen in the district in the year 1961-1962, sources said.