After Bamboo Flowers, Famine and Epidemics Follow

After Bamboo Flowers, Famine and Epidemics Follow
Signs Always Visible from Northeast India to Bangladesh
The flowering of bamboo is not considered a positive omen. When bamboo flowers, it marks the end of the plant’s lifecycle. Bamboo flowering signifies that the plant has completed its life journey, but a new report suggests that in Northeast India, bamboo flowering has historically been associated with famines.
The government of Mizoram has documented periodic famines linked to bamboo flowering cycles since 1815, with intervals of roughly 50 years. Records reveal that Mizoram has faced famine following bamboo flowering every time this phenomenon occurs.
In Mizoram, bamboo flowering follows a cycle of 40 to 120 years, with a specific species, Melocanna baccifera, locally known as “Mautak,” predominantly responsible. It is observed that after a flowering cycle of around 48 to 50 years, bamboo plants release large quantities of seeds rich in nutrients. This abundance of food leads to a rapid increase in the rat population, which subsequently triggers famines as the rodents consume crops and spread diseases.
The Rapid Rise in Rat Population During Flowering
According to the study, after the flowering of bamboo (locally called “Mautam”) from Northeast India to Bangladesh, signs of a potential famine and epidemic are seen. The last such occurrence in Mizoram was in 1959. The report shows that this natural event causes a surge in the rat population, affecting local food supplies.
Historical records note that the first bamboo flowering-related famine occurred in Mizoram in 1911, followed by another in 1959. In 2007, the phenomenon was again observed, and in 2009, the bamboo flowering was recognized as a significant natural event.
The local bamboo produces seeds similar to rice grains, albeit darker in colour, which attract rats in large numbers, creating a scenario where the local population is vulnerable to famine due to crop destruction.