Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu): Rats, often considered as deadly pests, especially by the farming community, have turned into hot commodities in the rice basket of Tamil Nadu.
What started as an alternative vocation for farmers, turned into a profitable venture, as residents of Neelathanallur, Patteeswaram, Avur and other neighbouring villages, near Kumbakonam of Thanjavur district, have been thronging to buy these 'farm rats' for consumption.
Ahead of the season, conducive to cultivate Samba rice, the farmers sought to earn a buck by selling the rats captured on their respective farms. However, the unexpected response, fuelled by a weird belief that consumption of 'farm rats' would make them stronger and have medicinal values, has resulted in a thriving business.
Segregated in groups of three and more, the 'farm rats' are being sold for prices ranging between Rs 100-200, or sometimes even more. The farmers procured a substantial number of rodents, as they embarked on the capture right after the farmlands had dried up after summer.
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