Rodents, including rats, mice, and squirrels, cause severe economic damage throughout the postharvest chain. Their constant gnawing destroys protective packaging materials and storage infrastructure. When rodents feed on seed grains, they often target the germ, leading to complete germination failure.

Beyond direct crop losses, rodents contaminate stored foods with their droppings, hair, and urine. This presents a major public health risk, as they act as vectors for deadly zoonotic diseases like Lassa fever.