Parthenium, popularly known as Congress grass or gajar ghas is an economically important invasive weed which has invaded 35 million hectares of cultivated, uncultivated, waste lands, road sides, railway tracks in the country.
Parthenium weed not only infests the crop field and reduce the productivity but also causes many health problems in human and animals, besides deteriorating environment and biodiversity. So, to create awareness among the people and farmers about the harmful effect of parthenium and its management, as per the directives of Govt. of India, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore organized “Parthenium Awareness Week” during 16-22 August, 2021.
Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director of ICAR-CRIJAF inaugurated the “Parthenium Awareness Week 2021” on 16th August with his valuable remarks and appeal to all the scientists and staffs to observe the Awareness week with full involvement and dedication. He also reiterated to act throughout the year with an aim to eradicate parthenium from human habitat and develop a viable methodology for possible composting without affecting health.
The other programmes organized during the Awareness week are Parthenium cleaning drive in the Institute farms, Divisions/ Sections/ Units and residential complex by involving the Scientists, staff members and campus residents; Parthenium awareness programme among the farmers; A farmers awareness camp was organized in village: Kalsara, Kadambagachhi, Barasat-I Bolck, North 24 Pgs where farmers were taught about the harmful effects of parthennium and its possible management.
On the concluding day, the Director and the Head of Divisions/ Section and Units reiterated that this weed which is menace in crop field and road side waste lands is the real threat to the agriculture, besides can cause potential health hazards like respiratory and allergic diseases in man and animals. It’s very important to create mass awareness to reduce the threat of this weed in the society.
The Awareness week programme was coordinated by Dr. R.K. Naik, Senior. Scientist of ICAR-CRIJAF. A webinar on Parthenium – Problems and Management was also organised, delivered by Dr. S. Sarkar, Principal Scientist, Crop production division and weed specialist , which was attended by all staff of the institute.
