Other States - Orissa   

Farm scientists fear entry of weeds in wheat

BHUBANESWAR: Researchers will go from village to village in 12 districts from the first week of September, looking for five obnoxious weeds, which might have made their way to the Orissa through wheat import from abroad.

The five weeds that could severely hamper agricultural production are Ambosia trifida (Russian origin), Cenchrus tribuloides (Australian origin), Cynoglossum officinale (Italy), solanum carolinese (USA) and viola arvenisis (found in European wastelands).

The search for alien weeds is part of the National Invasive Weeds Surveillance Prosgramme, which was launched over 10 states, said Sudhansu Mishra, a senior agronomist of All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP), on the sidelines of training programme for surveillance teams from Orissa, West Bengal and Chhatisgarh here on Wednesday. “India had imported 6.2 million tonnes of wheat during the year 2006-07 from countries like Australia, Russia, Canada, Hungary and France.

To meet the food scarcity, the wheat import was permitted with relax phyto-sanitary condition so as to encourage participation of more number of countries in the bidding,” Mr. Mishra said.

He said some alien invasive weed seeds were feared to have been introduced in the country through import of wheat for public distribution system.

“We want to develop a system of weed surveillance with a view to early detection of invasive weeds and also to create a data base in respect of weed flora of the country,” the senior agronomist said.

Advent of such alien weeds in the State like Mikania Micrantha, Cuscutta and Parthenium Hysterophorous had earlier caused damage to the agriculture and horticulture. Search of those five obnoxious weed would cover 12 districts including Puri, Khurda, Bolangir, Bargarh, Sonepur and Kandhamal.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

BSE proposes new ‘scoring’ pattern
Farm scientists fear entry of weeds in wheat
Locals block traffic as boy is injured in accident
Christian council seeks CBI probe into violence
Tree-felling makes law-enforcing tough job
Southco staff demonstrate over death of apprentice
Youth injured in attack
Ganjam district may have seven new tehsil offices in this financial year
Students go on the rampage

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu