More than 5,000 farmers in Mizoram have suffered heavy crop losses due to a severe rodent infestation linked to the flowering of the bamboo species Bambusa Tulda, officials said Tuesday.
Deputy Director (Plant Protection) Lalrindiki told PTI that over 1,700 hectares of farmland across 180 villages in all 11 districts were damaged, with 5,317 farmers losing an estimated 42% of their harvest this season.
The infestation is reportedly under control following mass poisoning drives and other containment measures, with rodent populations declining after the harvest period ended.
Mamit district, bordering Bangladesh and Tripura, was the worst affected, with 2,009 families reporting crop losses around 60%. Lunglei district saw losses of 60.7% among 1,071 farmers, while Hnahthial district recorded the highest destruction percentage-wise, with 110 farmers losing nearly 83% of their crops.
The bamboo flowering, locally called ‘Thingtam,’ was first observed in Mamit in February 2024. Occurring every 48 years, the previous event took place in 1977. The outbreak affected paddy crops most severely, but maize, sugarcane, ginger, eggplant, pumpkin, and sesame were also damaged.
Mizoram’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, with about 70% of the population practicing mainly slash-and-burn (jhum) cultivation, which provides low productivity. The state government has been encouraging a shift to horticulture and long-term plantations such as betel nut, grapes, and pineapple to improve farm resilience.
The last major rodent infestation in Mizoram occurred in 2022, impacting nine districts.
