Farmers are facing difficulties due to rat infestations.

(Baonghean.vn) - This autumn-winter season of 2016, Nghi Loc district is cultivating 1,500 hectares of corn, 437 hectares of peanuts, and 300 hectares of vegetables. Currently, hundreds of hectares of winter crops are being damaged by rats.

Corn in Nghi Loc has been severely damaged by rats.

At this time of year, corn plants are producing ears and young kernels, peanut plants are flowering and forming tubers, vegetables are developing, and some early-planted areas are being harvested. This is also the time when corn and peanuts are most severely damaged by rats. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam from Hamlet 11, Nghi My Commune, said: “This year, my family planted 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of corn. Currently, the corn is in the young kernel stage, but it is being severely damaged by rats, especially after the rain, when more rats appear. For now, we can only implement manual methods to control the rat damage and protect the crops.”

Winter crops in Nghi Kieu, Nghi Lam, Nghi Van communes (Nghi Loc district) are also being severely damaged by rats on a large scale. Currently, corn on many fields in Nghi Kieu commune has been heavily gnawed and destroyed.

In response to this situation, the district's agricultural sector has disseminated information and directed local authorities to mobilize people to go to the fields to eradicate rats using various manual methods such as: clearing bushes, digging rat burrows, pouring water into the burrows, using smoke, setting traps, and using bait at night to kill rats. At the same time, they launched a campaign to encourage all citizens to participate in the rat eradication effort with the motto: "Every household eradicates rats."

Farmers in Nghi Kieu go to the fields to kill rats.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Nghi Loc district, said: “To protect crops, people are using proper methods to control rats, ensuring absolute safety for people, livestock, and poultry; minimizing the use of chemical pesticides, and strictly prohibiting the use of electric grids to trap rats. Emphasis is placed on protecting the canal system, internal field roads, and organizing the collection and disposal of dead rats in areas far from residential areas, schools, and water sources to ensure environmental hygiene and safety.”

In particular, right after harvesting the rice crop, farmers clean up the fields, remove straw and stubble, and regularly weed the embankments to limit hiding places and breeding grounds for rats.

The captured rats are collected and brought to one place for processing.

Van Xinh - Thu Hien