12 Mar 2012

Birds wreak havoc on rice growing trials in Samoa

9:24 am on 12 March 2012

Myna birds are threatening rice growing trials in Samoa.

The bird, which is also known as a flying rat, eats just about everything and causes serious damage to property and threatens agriculture.

A team of Chinese farmers is trialling rice plantations in villages in Samoa.

The Minister of Agriculture Tuiloma Pule Lameko told Le Weekender newspaper that the ministry searched for a variety of rice that can be grown in the ground, not paddy fields like in most Asian countries.

He says the trials are going well however the Myna bird is starting to be a pest for the rice gardens.

The ministry is trying to control the Myna bird population however it is widespead