No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchive‘Country Rats’ Plague Farmers Along Country’s Pacific Coast

‘Country Rats’ Plague Farmers Along Country’s Pacific Coast

A “plague” of rats has cultivated concerns in the agricultural sectors of northwest Costa Rica, causing the government to declare a state of emergency Monday.

The problem is primarily in Guanacaste province, the central Pacific and the region north of Puntarenas, according to a statement from the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry. It mostly affects the production of sugarcane, rice and corn, while pineapple farms also have experienced damages.

It is not so much a plague as an infestation of Central American “country rats” that  eat through the stalks of plants and ruin harvests, said Luis Sánchez, a spokesperson for the ministry.

“It’s a very common species in the Central American region,” Sánchez said. “They attack the base of the plants.”

While the invasion has grown steadily in magnitude for four straight years, this has been the worst year, due to unusually dry conditions that already have left many farmers pulling in smaller yields, Sánchez said. The emergency was declared, he said, so that farmers in affected areas can coordinate with the Plant Health Department in eradicating the rats.

According to Sánchez, the ministry began collecting information on the problem in November of 2008 and has a control campaign in place. He said the ministry is working in a number of areas and is expanding its efforts.

The Plant Health Department, responsible for dealing with the rats, will use antirodent baits and a massive use of rodent traps, according to the statement.

–Daniel Shea

 

Popular Articles

Costa Rica President’s State of Nation Address Sparks Controversy

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves delivered his third State of the Nation Address to the Legislative Assembly, employing an unconventional approach that blended multimedia...

Costa Rica Catholics Support Conclave Despite No Voting Cardinal

Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney this evening, signaling that the 133 cardinals in the 2025 conclave have not yet elected a...

Canadian Government Issues Travel Advisory for Costa Rica

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory for Costa Rica, urging citizens to exercise a high degree of caution due to increasing crime...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles