LEGAZPI CITY ---- Thousands of rats attacked vast rice lands in Albay feasting on newly planted crops thus threatening the rice production targets of the province.

        Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, said the rat infestation has affected some 700 hectares of rice lands in 98 villages in the towns of Libon, Polangui, Oas, Guinobatan, and the City of Ligao, all in the third district of the province, Sto. Domingo in the first district and Daraga, Camalig and this city, in the second district.

        Salceda quoting reports from the provincial agriculture office said the degree of rat infestation ranging from moderate to severe was felt in the third district of Albay with some 1,429 farmers affected by the pests.

        Moderate to slight degree of infestation was noted in the towns of Sto.Domingo, Camalig, Daraga and this city affecting 91 farmers.

        Salceda expressed alarm over the extent of the rat infestation and earmarked some P.5 million for the purchase of the much-needed rodenticides to kill rats and other preventive farming inputs against other pests.

        He also launched a “buy a rat tail” campaign where the provincial government through the various municipal agriculture officers will buy rat tails at P2.00 per tail from villagers affected by the infestation.

        “This campaign will be a community effort among farmers and agriculture technicians who will join hands in fighting this menace,” Salceda said.

        “This rat infestation threatens to bring down by 10 percent the province’s rice production target of P600 million for this year which is equivalent to P60 million rice production loss,” Salceda explained.

        Continuous rains and floods since last December last year are being blamed for this exodus of thousands of rats leaving their hiding places to look for food and alternative shelters.