Christmas cheer for Mizos, govt assures ample rice supply

The people of Mizoram, facing acute shortage of rice due to rodent–attack, are in for some cheer, after the chief minister promised adequate supply of food and quick response to the crisis, at least during Christmas.

Mizoram?s acting Chief Minister Tawnluia, according to local reports had ensured adequate supply of rice in the state before the Christmas.

The Lt Governor M M Lakhera has also urged the Centre to immediately allocate an additional monthly quota of rice before the main festival of the Mizo's.

''Christmas is the main festival of the people here and they won?t be able to enjoy it in such crisis of food,'' Lt (rtd) Lakhera said.

According to reports, Shillong based FCI general manageer C H Kharshiing has promised to take stock of the situation and send at least 19,400 quintals of rice before Christmas

Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister K Sangthuama have taken stock of the food situation in more than 20 villages under Lawngtlai district in South Mizoram.

The state's heavy flowering bamboo crops attract hordes of rats, a phenomenon known locally as Mautam. Not only do the rats thrive on the bamboo flowers, they also then go on to destroy the farmers' crops.

The food crisis has been made worse by the massive destruction caused by unprecedented monsoon downpours this year, which damaged hundreds of homes, roads, fish ponds and paddy fields

More than half of Mizoram's population of nearly 900,000 people are farmers. Some 87% of the population (including almost all ethnic Mizos) is Christian.