Matobo District, Zimbabwe — Communities in parts of Matobo District have raised concern over an unusual invasion of rats that is threatening household food security following a good rainy season. Members of Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Teams report that the rodents are damaging crops and seeds at an alarming rate, a challenge many villagers say they have never experienced before.
According to villagers, the rats are digging up planted seeds and feeding on crops at early growth stages. Affected produce includes maize, groundnuts, and melons, which are staple food and income sources for many households. The damage has left villagers worried that anticipated good harvests may be significantly reduced.
Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Teams note that while villagers are accustomed to dealing with quelea bird invasions, particularly during grain-filling stages, rat infestations are new and unexpected. “This is not a problem we usually face. We know how to deal with birds, but rats are destroying crops from underground,” one villager explained at a WhatsApp group discussion.
Highlighting the extent of the damage, Olitha Msebele, Habakkuk Trust Action Team Information Secretary for Matobo Ward 9, shared images of the affected fields, lamenting the losses already being experienced by villagers. “The rats are digging up seeds and eating the crops before they mature. Many villagers fear losing their harvest despite the good rains,” she said.
Agricultural experts note that rodent outbreaks are often linked to favorable rainfall patterns, which increase vegetation cover and food availability, creating ideal breeding conditions. Similar outbreaks have been reported in parts of southern Africa following seasons of above-average rainfall.
Villagers have also expressed concerns over the use of pesticides, citing fears of poisoning livestock, contaminating water sources, and posing health risks to children. Through Community Advocacy Action Teams, communities are calling for support from agricultural extension services to provide guidance on safe and environmentally friendly pest control methods.
Habakkuk Trust continues to support communities to raise emerging challenges affecting livelihoods and food security, while promoting collective action and engagement with relevant authorities to find sustainable solutions.
