More than 5,000 farmers across all 11 districts of Mizoram have experienced significant crop losses due to a substantial rodent outbreak triggered by the synchronous flowering of the bamboo species Bambusa Tulda, which has resulted in a 42% reduction in their annual harvest. The State Agriculture Department confirmed that over 1,700 hectares of cultivated land were affected, impacting 5,317 farmers who collectively lost nearly half of their produce. Deputy Director of Plant Protection, Laldinkimi, indicated that the situation is beginning to stabilize due to government-led mitigation efforts, including mass poisoning drives and natural declines in rodent populations following the harvest season.
The north-western district of Mamit recorded the highest number of affected households, with 2,009 families experiencing an estimated 60% crop loss, making it the region most impacted overall. In Lunglei, 1,071 farmers lost 60.7% of their crops, while Hnahthial district faced the direst proportional damage, with 130 farmers suffering an astounding 82.9% loss in yield. The rodent crisis was first identified in February last year, originating in a Mamit village and subsequently affecting 12 villages before expanding throughout the state by 2025.
A second bamboo species, Udgona montana, also contributed to the rodent population surge, having expanded from five villages in 2020 to 45 villages in 2024. Major crops suffered extensive damage during this outbreak; paddy was the worst affected, followed by maize, sugarcane, ginger, brinjal, pumpkin, and sesame. Agriculture officials have stated that the extensive damage observed this year is unprecedented compared to recent decades.
Rodent outbreaks related to bamboo flowering occur in a 48-year cycle in Mizoram, with the previous major event in 1977 and a more minor outbreak in 2022 affecting at least nine districts. This year’s scenario is additionally tied to the “Mautam,” a cyclical flowering of Melocanna Baccifera, which has historically led to famine-like conditions within the state. Early warning systems and proactive measures from state authorities were pivotal in averting a severe humanitarian crisis.
Agriculture is a crucial sector for Mizoram’s economy, making it particularly vulnerable to pest-related disruptions. The common agricultural practice of jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation tends to yield short-cycle crops that are more susceptible to ecological shocks. Moreover, the limited adoption of long-term or high-revenue crops such as oranges, nuts, and pineapples exacerbates economic fragility during such outbreaks. Experts have noted the close association between the formation of Mizoram as a state and famines historically linked to bamboo flowering cycles, highlighting the dynamic interrelation between ecological events and the region’s socio-economic development.
