Vijay Prakash, the welfare minister in Bihar state in eastern India, said he wanted to set up rat farms and sell the meat to upmarket hotels, street stalls and restaurants.
The project will start with stalls in rural fairs followed by "rat meat centres" in urban areas.
The 2.3 million members of the Musahar caste, one of the poorest in India, have traditionally eaten rats that they hunted in paddy fields.
Now Mr Prakash says rich people should also sample the meat, which he said was full of protein and tasted better than chicken.
"Some socially deprived people in Bihar have always consumed rat meat," he said. "If they can eat rats, why can't the rest of the people?"
He said the plan would tackle food prices on two fronts: by reducing the amount of grain consumed by rodents and producing a cheap form of meat.
I personally think Mr Prakash has a noble idea--another good source of cheap protein is invaluable, especially considering how many of the worlds millions live on the edge of starvation. I truly hope that his endeavors are successful, and that his visionary idea spreads across the globe.Which brings us to the United States.
Our citizens have a strong revulsion for anything "rat", and the mere mention conjures up images of the Black Death, babies chewed on in their cribs, filthy rodents scurrying through sewers, up through their drains, and ARRRGGHHH. Couple these stereotypical responses with the Human Genome Project's recent announcement that "plague rats share 99% of their DNA with used car salesmen and televangelists", and you can see that the marketing people charged with cleaning up the image of the poor rat have their work cut out.
But they can do it, and they certainly will, once they see the enormous profit potential. They can get people to buy anything, and if you think you're immune to their diabolical skills, think again. Take a walk through your house and garage (remember to check your closets and fridge)and look at all the "stuff" you have and ask yourself if you really needed it when you just had to buy it. I rest my case.
Anyway, once the marketing geniuses have made "rat" into the next "must have" rage, you'll be overwhelmed with a proliferation of rat foods and products that will prove irresistable even to people with deadly allergies to rodents.
Upscale restaurants will outdo themselves with new culinary delights such as "Norwegian Rat Fritters with Raspberry and Cilantro", "Rat Kebobs with Seasonal Vegetables" and "Rat Cordon Bleu".
McDonalds will have ratburger "Happy Meals", with a "lucky rat's foot" in each one.
Rat will supplant pepperoni as the most popular pizza topping.
Billions will be made by those supplying rat to school lunch programs.
Taco Bell--never mind, you don't want to know.
Frito Lay will market a full line of rat chip snacks, and pork rinds will share shelf space with rat rinds.
Rotisserie rat will be ubiquitous in supermarket deli's-- hundreds of new sauces and marinades will fill the shelves-- rat sausage (links and patties) will have good visibility--and rat will be promoted as the "new traditional" Thanksgiving feast.
Rats in the meat cases of gourmet markets will be presented wearing little flea collars to heighten clientele appeal.
Canned "Mock Rat" soup will be made with (ugh) chicken.
In short, rat--pressed, dressed, caressed, promoted, exalted, foisted, baked, boiled, fried, broiled, grilled, stuffed, gumboed, skewered, breaded, shredded, bone-in, skinless, chopped, ground, formed, filleted, trussed, water added, fresh, frozen, farm raised, organic, free-range rat-- will be king.
When you take your first delectable, mouth-watering bite of rat you'll shed tears of joy. At that moment, stop and give thanks and to the selfless entrepreneurs who made it happen just for you. Oh, and send a note of thanks to Mr. Vijay Prakash. Last I heard, he was still in India.
