Deadly parthenium weed invades India’s farmlands
Nearly 4.25 million hectares are under threat from the deadly weed parthenium, which, if controlled, can raise India’s crop yield substantially, a research body has said.
Scientists say that parthenium weed control could help increase crop yield and the country’s food grains production by 25-30 per cent.
Most devastating
Parthenium entered India with imported food grains in the mid-1950s.
“One of the world’s seven most devastating and hazardous weeds, Parthenium invaded 14.25 million hectares of farm land during 2001-07, compared to two million hectares in 1991-2000,” Jabalpur-based Directorate of Weed Science Research (DWSR) Director Jay. G. Varshney told PTI.
“Proper management of the weed could increase crop yield by 30 per cent and help us achieve self-sufficiency in import-dependent food items such as pulses and edible oil,” he said.
Surprising
However, leading agri-scientist Prof. M.S. Swaminathan was surprised to learn that parthenium has spread to crop land as well. “I am surprised to know that parthenium has spread to farm lands. I have no knowledge about this development. So far I have seen it growing along roads and rail lines only,” he exclaimed.
Currently, total food grain production in the country is estimated to be around 227.88 million tonnes as per advance estimates of the Agriculture Ministry.
“There is no need to have a Rs. 4,882.5 crore National Food Security Mission if a control mechanism is put in place at a community level to manage the weed,” Varshney said.
Found abundantly
The weed plant, also known as ‘congress grass’ and ‘gajar ghas’, is found abundantly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
It spreads through the plant’s seeds, which are carried by wind, water, animals and humans. It is difficult to control its spread as the plant germinates exceedingly fast and a single plant can produce up to 25,000 seeds.
Report preparation
The weed has invaded millions of hectares across the country including crop land, wasteland and forest areas, according to DWSR, which is preparing a report on this.
Initially, the deadly weed occupied largely non-crop areas such as wasteland, open forests and roadsides. It has now spread to cropping land at an alarming rate, DWSR said.
PTI
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