India, Sept. 25 -- Aizawl: Over 800 jhum farmers in three districts of Mizoram are grappling with a growing rodent outbreak, prompting the state government to step up preventive measures and avert a potential famine-like situation, a senior agriculture official said on Thursday.
Lalrindiki, Deputy Director (Plant Protection) of the State Agriculture Department, confirmed that rodents have attacked several parts of Mamit, Lunglei, and Saitual districts.
The infestation has damaged crops across 158 hectares of jhum (shifting cultivation) land, primarily affecting rice and soybean plantations.
"We suspect the outbreak is linked to 'Thingtam', the cyclical flowering of Bambusa tulda (Rawthing bamboo), which occurs every 48 years. This flowe...