AsaaseYaaRats
Rats eat seeds after sowing, and grain in the field and in store.
When it comes
| Crop | Stage | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Maize | Grain fill | Scout weekly |
| Rice | Establishment | Scout twice weekly |
| Rice | Grain fill | Scout daily |
What to look for
Once a week, pull the husk off a few cobs and look. If grains have holes, dark spots, or look mouldy, harvest sooner — waiting only makes it worse. Walk the edges of the field for rat trails or burrows; rats can ruin a corner of the field overnight.
Twice a week, check the rice. If the centre leaf of a plant is rolled into a tube like an onion, that's gall midge. Also walk the edges — rats can chew through whole patches in a single night.
Birds can ruin a whole field of soft rice in days. Set up scarecrows, hang shiny things, or have a child guard the field at peak hours. Rice bugs and rats both stay busy at this stage too.
Also watch for
General advice from crop guides for Ghana. Before you spray, ask your agro-input dealer for a product registered for this pest, read the label, and wear gloves. For a serious attack, call your district agriculture office or an agronomist.
Catch it early
AsaaseYaa reminds you when to check your crop for pests, and shows you what to look for. Free.