Once in a Generation, Rats Return to Mizoram’s Fields

Rodent Outbreak Hits Mizoram Farms, 800 Farmers Already Affected

September 30, 2025

In parts of Mizoram, farmers are experiencing a surge in rodent numbers that is damaging their crops. Large groups of rats have been entering fields and eating rice, soybeans and other produce. Many of these farmers practise jhum cultivation, which means clearing forest patches and growing crops there for one or two seasons. Rats are entering these farms, eating produce before harvest, and causing heavy financial losses for families who depend on a single yearly crop for food and income.

The current infestation has affected at least 45 villages in Mamit district, two in Lunglei district and one in Saitual district, according to Assam Tribune.

Around 800 jhum farmers have already reported damage to their fields, which is a serious concern because each farmer typically depends on a small plot for their entire annual food supply and income. If the infestation spreads across the full 2,500 hectares under jhum cultivation in the affected districts, more than 1,500 farmers could face similar losses, putting local food security and rural livelihoods at severe risk. Nearly 158 hectares, an area that could fit over 100 cricket stadiums, have already been affected.

The worst-hit area is Mamit district, which borders Tripura and Bangladesh, where 769 farmers have reported damage.

The rodent outbreak is connected to a larger ecological event known locally as “Thingtam,” a phenomenon that occurs every 46 to 48 years. It is triggered by the flowering of a bamboo species called “Bambusa tulda.” This bamboo flowers all at once after several decades, producing a large quantity of seeds that fall to the forest floor. These seeds become food for rodents, which begin to breed rapidly. Their population increases sharply in a short span of time. Once the bamboo seeds are finished, the rodents leave the forests and enter farms in search of more food.

The last Thingtam took place in 1977, and the next one could be underway. That means this is the first full Thingtam cycle in nearly five decades. Officials believe the current rodent outbreak is a direct result of the beginning of this cycle. This is different from other rodent incidents in the past. For instance, in 2007, Mizoram experienced a famine-like crisis due to the flowering of a different bamboo species called “Melocanna baccifera.” Although that event also led to a rodent outbreak, it was not part of the Thingtam cycle.

In 2022, another rodent outbreak was reported, but that too was separate from the present situation.

Rodent outbreaks also create a risk to human health. Rodents often carry diseases. One of the most serious is scrub typhus, an infection that spreads to humans through the bites of tiny insects called chiggers, which live on rodents. In Mizoram, health experts and researchers have confirmed that scrub typhus has been spreading through rats and other rodents.

Scrub typhus usually begins with high fever, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue. Some people also develop a dark scab at the site of the chigger bite, along with a rash, swollen lymph nodes or confusion in severe cases. The illness is caused by a bacteria called “Orientia tsutsugamushi.” If diagnosed early, scrub typhus can be treated effectively with antibiotics such as doxycycline or azithromycin. Most people recover fully with timely treatment, though delays can lead to serious complications affecting the lungs, kidneys or brain.

To respond to the situation, teams of zoologists from Pachhunga University College have begun visiting the affected villages. Their task is to identify which species are present and whether they are capable of carrying diseases like scrub typhus.

The situation points to a gap in early warning and preparation. Since Thingtam is a known cycle with a predictable timeline, early signs of rodent population growth should have triggered field monitoring and preventive action well in advance.

Mizoram is especially susceptible to this kind of rodent outbreak because of its dense bamboo forests. The state’s hilly terrain, widespread jhum cultivation and close link between forest and farmland make it more vulnerable compared to other regions.

The state’s Agriculture Department is expected to assess the damage promptly and offer support to farmers who have lost their crops. On its part, the Health Department should monitor affected areas for signs of disease and begin treatment where needed.

If handled poorly, the rodent outbreak could grow worse and spread to more areas. Mizoram has dealt with such crises before. A similar effort is needed now, especially because Thingtam is a once-in-a-generation event with serious consequences.

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