Rats annually inflict extensive damage to crops in the country, including jute, valued at approximately Tk 2,900 crore.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office sources, in Bangladesh, rat attacks lead to the destruction of 5-7 percent of rice, 4-12 percent of wheat, 5-7 percent of potatoes, and 6-9 percent of pineapples. On average, field crops suffer losses of 5-7 percent, while stored crops experience damage ranging from 3-5 percent.
On Sunday, a vibrant rally was organised at the Srimangal Upazila Parishad premises to mark the National Rat Eradication Campaign-2023. The rally was led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ali Rajib Mahmud Mithun, with the presence of the Upazila Agriculture Officer. Notable attendees included Agriculture Officer Mohiuddin, Agriculture Extension Officer Ujjal Sutradhar, Deputy Assistant Plant Conservation Officer Rakendra Sharma, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Md. Masukur Rahman, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Suma Pal, as well as farmers from various unions within the upazila.
As per a bulletin published by the Department of Agriculture in 2023, it has been revealed that approximately 50-54 lakh people in Bangladesh experience food wastage each year due to rat infestations. The bulletin also highlights the significant economic impact of rodents on various sectors, indicating that mice create burrows in chicken farms, leading to the consumption of eggs and chicks, resulting in an annual loss of approximately Tk 18,000 for each farm.
What's particularly concerning is the rate at which rats can cause damage. A single rat can cut down 200-300 ears of paddy or wheat in just one night.
The bulletin emphasizes that rats pose a global challenge, as there is no country in the world that remains unaffected by this issue. According to data from the World Health Organization in 1967, rats were responsible for the spoilage of a staggering 3 crore 33 lakh tons of food annually worldwide.
In the Asian region, rats lead to the wastage of 12 months' worth of food for approximately 18 crore people each year. At the household level, a single rat can cause damage to 40-50 kg of grains annually in warehouses, resulting in a cumulative loss of 75.1 lakh tons.
In Bangladesh, the impact is substantial, with about 50-54 lakh people losing a year's worth of food due to rat-related issues. Additionally, rats annually inflict damage valued at around 1.5-2.0 thousand crores to crops and other goods.
As per available sources, in 2022, the country was able to preserve approximately 89,876 tons of crops by effectively eliminating approximately 1 crore 19 lakh 84 thousand rats nationwide. The market value of the saved crops is estimated to be around 360 crore taka.
