BUFFALO PULLING PLOUGH: PEOPLE SPREADING RICE ON MAIN ROAD; CARS DRIVING OVER RICE; PLANNING RICE; PEOPLE SEARCH FOR RATS IN FIELDS; CATCHING RATS (VARIOUS SHOTS); RATS STACKED ON GROUND.




Initials DS/V/CR/SS/



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE SEASON'S RICE HARVEST IS IN .... BUT THE COUNTRY IS FACING SERIOUS LOSSES CROPS RUINED BY A RAT INFESTATION.

IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA PAZ, ON LUZON ISLAND, MANY OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTRY'S FIVE-YEAR-OLD LAND REFORM PROGRAMME ARE BEING MAGNIFIED THROUGH ABSENTEE LANDLORDS.

TENANT FARMERS IN THE AREA CONTINUE WORKING THEIR LAND AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR YEARS - EXCEPT THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MOTOR CAR HAS PROVIDED THEM WITH AN INGENIOUS METHOD OF DRYING THE GRAIN AND REMOVING IT FROM THE HUSKS.

THE FARMERS SIMPLY LAY THE RICE ON THE SEALED ROADS PASSING THROUGH THEIR LAND, AND THE WHEELS OF THE VEHICLES DO THE REST.

HOWEVER, MILLIONS OF RATS NOW INFESTING THE ISLAND HAVE REDUCED THIS YEAR'S HARVEST TO FRACTION OF PREVIOUS YEAR'S, AND ONE ESTIMATE PUTS THE LOSS AT ABOUT 65 PER CENT.

BESIDES DAMAGE TO CROPS, THE RATS HAVE ALSO CAUSED THE DEATH OF THREE BROTHERS, WHOSE BOAT WAS SWAMPED BY THOUSANDS OF SWIMMING RATS.

THERE ARE ALSO FEARS THAT BUBONIC PLAGUE COULD ALSO STRIKE UNLESS SOME MEANS IS FOUND TO EXTERMINATE THE RATS.