LINGAYEN – Shortage of water for second crop rice has spawned rat infestation in Manaoag town in the last few days.

Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares, however, said this is not quite alarming as only five hectares of land planted to rice had so far been destroyed by rats even as control measures were being instituted.

A report by Arnold Geronimo, municipal agriculture officer of Manaoag, said areas affected by rat infestation are ricefields in barangays Oraan East and West, Inamutan, Mermer, Matulong, Lelemaen and Baguinay.

Almendares said had there been enough water in the farms, the rats would not have attacked.

He discouraged farmers from planting second crop rice because there is scant water from the Agno River Irrigation System, Manaoag being at the tail-end of water distribution system.

“Farmers insisted planting second crop rice when they knew already that there was scanty water in their farms,” he said, adding that under such a dry situation, rats attacked.

A report from Manaoag said that the rats feed on stalks of rice so farmers really do not have something to harvest.

Manaoag is the only town so far affected by rat infestation. The other towns are not affected because water is still plentiful in their farms, Almendares explained.

He called on the farmers to plant corn, which needs less water to grow, and is one of the high value crops.