New Delhi -- Indian officials say they are working on a deal with the poor rat hunters in the state of Bihar to commercialize the sale of rat meat as a delicacy.

Vijay Prakash, principal secretary in the social welfare department, said the government is in talks with the rat-eaters, known as Musahars, to turn their niche market into a commercial enterprise, the Inter Asian News Service reported Tuesday.

Prakash said the talks are in part aimed at raising the socio-economic status of the Musahars.

"The government has decided to engage the Musahars in commercialization of rat meat for their overall development," Prakash said. "We will encourage and help the Musahars to organize rat farms in order to commercialize rat meat."

He said the estimated 2.3 million Musahars living in Bihar have long been among the poorest citizens of the state and the commercialization of rat meat could help them by supplying a steady source of income.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.