Scientific studies predicting "gregarious flowering" of bamboo in the northeast by 2006-07 is giving sleepless nights to the Ministry of Environment and Forests as the phenomenon is often associated with famines.The flowering produces large quantities of seeds on whcih the reodents thrive. Soon after, seed regeneration starts and the rats shift to the fields for food.This chain is a potential cause for famine. The Ministry has held several meetings on the issue but is yet to finalise a plan of action.