The newly launched agricultural season is being compromised, as germinating seeds are being destroyed, leaving farmers in a state of desperation.
Ana Mussa and Imedi Caseiro, two of the farmers interviewed by RCL, lament the situation and say they have lost almost all the seeds they planted. The rats destroy them, and the few seeds that manage to survive are then attacked by locusts and birds.
Some farmers are returning home from their fields in despair, as they are unable to fight the plague. “This year we will have nothing because the seeds are being eaten by rats.”
João Briate Chinvire, head of the Maniamba administrative post, expressed concern about the situation and said this is an unusual year for Maniamba. Rats are destroying seeds throughout the entire administrative post, and it is not easy to fight them, even with the use of insecticides. “This is an atypical year in the agricultural sector; the entire administrative post is being affected by the appearance of wild rats, which are eating seeds during the germination stage.”
Briate says the local government is carrying out awareness campaigns to encourage farmers not to give up and to acquire more seeds to replant.
If the situation continues, the area considered the “district granary” may be left empty next season and one can already imagine what this could mean for food security next year. (Davide Muianga)
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