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Farmers: Eradicate rats
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Posted on May 08 2000
Farmers have aired anew complaints that agricultural farm plots continue to be hounded by rats, eating up a significant chunk of their would-be harvests.
A farm worker who requested anonymity said the Department of Natural Resources should seriously look into an island-wide effort to permanently eradicate rats to prevent them from further breeding a whole new generation of rats.
Rats not only dwell on farms but all around the island of Saipan, said the farm worker, who has resided on the island for eleven years now.
“Rats breed very fast. One pair alone produces some 300 youngs,” said the farm worker.
The dreaded creatures mostly feed on sweet plants, according to another farm worker from Kagman.
“They eat my corn, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes,” he said.
Farm workers also expressed concern that while DLNR does conduct inspections and suggest solutions on pest control at the farms, the agency does not provide supplies for the treatment.
“They should try and do a Saipan-wide treatment against rats. If they do not kill them all, they will always keep coming back,” farm workers said.
DLNR Secretary Joaquin Tenorio told an interview that efforts are now underway to help farmers handle the situation at rat-infested Kagman farms.
“This is all part of the program that we’re doing,” said Mr. Tenorio, who earlier disclosed plans to meet with various government agencies to discuss on a related farming issue.
The Department of Public Health will be consulted on the health and sanitation issues surrounding the Kagman farms, according to Mr. Tenorio.
DLNR is counting on DPH to provide answers to the sanitation aspect of agricultural development.
“They can address safety plans for insects. What we want to do is try to keep the buildings, and the farm in sanitary conditions to prevent these rats from building up its population,” the secretary added.
Mr. Tenorio said DLNR has already expedited the clean-up of the access roads along Kagman farms.
“Our aim is to keep their structures clean at the present structure that they have so that there won’t be any more rats to feed on the harvest,” he added.
