An army of rats is eating away paddy in Lamtang village of Goshing Gewog in Zhemgang. The swarm of rodents attacks the paddy fields almost every day. If this continues, the farmers fear, they would be pushed back into poverty.
Apa Dhendup, 53, and his wife, Karma Lhamo from Lamtang clear their paddy field, as much as they can, in a hope to keep the rats away. They say chasing wild animals has become easier than chasing away rats.
“Horde of rats come from the nearby bushes and attack our crops,” said Apa Dhendup. He says they lose about 30 to 40 percent of their crops to the rats.
The husband and wife have tried several measures, including chemical. Instead, they say the problem has grown in magnitude over the years.
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The Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer, Tshering Tobgay say fields in the gewog is infested with rats as it is surrounded by forest. He says the farmers can exchange their land with the ones away from their village.
He also added the farmers can inundate their field with water and keep the area clean.
Apa Dhendup says he will give a try next season as well. But if the problem continues, he says, his last hope is to exchange his land that his forefathers have tilted and move on to a new one.
