army of rats that have stripped 72 acres of agricultural land

Farmers, many of whom now face a third potentially tragic cycle of failed harvests, are blaming climate change for the army of rats that have stripped 72 acres of agricultural land and threaten 472 hectares more.

Badung regency suffered particularly a severely damaged, affecting large areas of the area where crops have been decimated by the influx of unusually large rats supposed to have migrated from the contiguous Tabanan regency in search of food. The agricultural Tabanan officials estimate that in 2008 approximately 70 hectares of rice and maize crops have been destroyed by rats poaching. The second-worst affected area was in Penebel Riang Gede where 57 hectares of crops wipied outside. Next door in Gianyar regency, a total of 14 hectares of crops have been ruined since the beginning of 2009.

The head of the department of agriculture and plantations for Badung, I Gusti Agung by, said on Monday 27 July, that the destruction of agricultural crops was the worst in Mengwe now entering its traditional season of harvest. Nurseries valid seed covering 20 are (2,000 square meters), were attacked by rodents. Badung officials have distributed rat poison in the affected area and recommended farmers to undertake programs of mass murder against the rats.

Officials are concerned that the current plague of rats affect rice production in Bali this year. In general, rice production has declined over the past two years due to reduced agricultural land and the plague. In 2007, the total amount of land under rice cultivation has reduced from 150,577 to 145,030 hectares. This has resulted in a reduction in rice production to 839,775 of 840,891 tons.

Raka is a farmer Tegan, Kapal in Mengwe Kompas.com said that while the result of the rat attack, it is not harvested 6000 square meters of corn planted last June, causing a financial loss of RP. 5 million (U.S. $ 490). Raka is concerned that its losses will grow soon with the harvest of a new 25 days now under assault by rodents. He described how young rice plants that have fallen after being eaten by rats. His efforts to poison the animals were unsuccessful, with rats continuing to grow in its areas of planting.

In more normal times, the Balinese stimulate a more peaceful with the island 'the population of rat s. Rats given the nickname Jero Ketut, are most often driven from the rice fields that killed. And when the massacre is inevitable, ceremonies in which the rates are religiously prescribed burning is conducted.