Rats vs bamboo flowering, a big debate for Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 4 (UNI) Mizos from time immemorial have believed that feeding on flowering bamboo seeds or fruits increases the fertility of rats thereby increasing their population, however, experts are of a different opinion.

Several experts questioned the view at a symposium on 'Bamboo Flowering and its Consequences' here today and presented various papers on it.

Mizoram University's Zoology department head K Lalchhandama said so far, no scientific evidence existed to prove that bamboo seeds enhanced fertility of the rats.

Meanwhile, traditional knowledge expert C Rokhuma, who had conducted experiments on rats and their reaction to bamboo seeds, emphasised that the rats did multiply rapidly after feeding bamboo seeds.

However, the agriculture department said whatever be the reason for the population explosion of the rats, they were the main culprits which destroyed the paddy fields during massive bamboo flowering.

They further added that so far, about 13 villages had been affected due to this.

UNI SNR PP/ PK MIR RN1451