Background

The hills of Northen Chin state are covered with bamboos, specifically the species of Melocanna baccifera. Every 50 years or so, the bamboo plant comes into blossom, producing a natural aphrodisiac in its fruit. As a result, rats not only multiply faster, producing a new generation in as little as 3 months, these rodents are also much bigger. As food is consumed in the bamboo forest, rats migrate into villages, destroying crops and plundering food storage. Once an area is stripped bare, they move on to another.

This natural phenomenon known as “Mautam” usually lasts for about 3 years until rats run out of food, reducing their population numbers to normal. Meanwhile, crops are devastated in affected areas, leaving many villagers in these isolated communities at the brink of starvation

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Fruit of Melocanna baccifera sliced in half

August Trip

During August, upon receiving news about the rat infestation in Chin State, i Love Myanmar ( ILM ) dispatched a scouting team to Chin State to gauge the severity of the situation and explore the best logistical solution for transporting rice into affected areas.

A team composed of ILM staff Charles Thang and Zaw Zaw flew from Yangon to Sittwe; after spending the night they departed the next morning on a 6 hour bus ride to Kyautaw where they made their way up the Kalatan River by boat with 100 bags of rice.

After 7 hours they reached Paletwa, the main town in Paletwa township where they were welcomed by the local governor and village head. There were no cars in Paletwa.

The next day, the team continued upstream by boat, the only means of transportation outside of Paletwa. After several hours, the boat came to Taungpyo, which means “where the mountain fell down” and for good reason. As landslides on both sides had narrowed the river significantly, causing the river to flow quickly. The ILM team had to offload half their rice so as to lighten the load; with 25 people pulling on shore and the boat engine on full throttle, the boat finally passed the area after one and a half hour’s hard work.

Boat with 100 bags of rice to Paletwa (above)

transfering rice bags to smaller boat (below)

Severity of food shortage

The ILM team finally arrived in Troyai where they came into contact with an army camp. Being stationed in the area, they were well aware of the rat infestation and knew the worst affected areas. The army Major described how families of 8 were living on soup made from 1 cup of rice and chopped up green bananas from the forest.

Hearing that i Love Myanmar was bringing rice to villages, they immediately offered to guide us to the neediest locations: one team to Kalet Chaung along the Kalet River, another along the U Ta Lin River.  

One captain had permission to be on leave, but he offered to lead a team; said it was the least he could do since he had neither money nor rice to give. “Their suffering is great and I feel their pain” the captain said.

Charles & the team

Army Major & the team talking to villagers

Army Major & Zaw Zaw giving sweet to children

Need of villages

That evening, Charles sat down with the major, determining how much rice would be needed for each village and ordered an additional 165 bags of rice. At day break, the two teams set off in different directions placing 15 bags of rice in each small boat.

Charles’ team went ahead of the boats on foot to observe the conditions of the villages, tracking across rivers, up steep hills under the bamboo grove. True enough; conditions were as described by the army Major at Lik Chaung Wa, Kyung Chaung Wa and Kyaut Palin.

One villager told of how they tried to protect their rice storage – guards were positioned in the front and rear. A ring of fire was kept going all night around the storage. However rats overwhelmed the guards. “I can only kill about 300 rats” said one guard; the rest ran by, some jumping over the fires and all 400 bags of rice were gone in 1 night. Rats have now grown to 8 inches (excluding tail) and can consume up to 5 acres in one night.  rats                             

While on their way, the team met several villagers journeying to Troyai, where they intended to borrow rice, only to be returned at 100 % interest in 6 months; although the army major told the villagers they need not borrow rice as i Love Myanmar was going to donate rice, it took much persuasion for them to believe as they have never received any help from outsiders.

the team met villagers on the way (above & below)

Charles climbing down slippery path (above)

crossing river (below)

happy villagers

Distribution of Rice

Rice being distributed to villagers

When the boats arrived with rice in 3 days’ time, each person was given 20 cups of rice and $ 3 USD per family to purchase other necessities. Although significantly less than what ILM had hoped to provide for, but the need was great and ILM staff had already given all that they had, even their own money. A total of 1,030 families in 24 different villages were provided with rice.