Cash-for-rats scheme

Authorities in northeastern India are offering farmers cash for every rat killed in the face of an explosion in the rat population that threatens to devastate crops and plunge the region into a famine, officials yesterday.

Farmers will be paid two rupees ($0.05) for every rat tail brought in to government offices as proof that the rat has been killed, said James Lalsiamliana, an official of Mizoram state's Rodent Control Program.

"Rodents are swarming all across Mizoram state, feasting on standing crops and leading to fears of a famine. The situation is indeed alarming," Lalsiamliana said.

(China Daily 10/18/2007 page10)