AICPR on Weed Management, Rajendranagar Conducted Farmers’ Awaresness Programme on “Parthenium Eradication ” on 21-08-2021 in Adopted Village

As part of “PARTHENIUM AWARENESS WEEK” from 16-22, 2021 AICRP on Weed Management, Rajendranagar conducted an awareness programme at adopted village, Sheriguda Bhadraipally (v), Kotthur (m), Ranga Reddy district on 21.08.2021. The Programme was organized at Panchayat Office of the village. Dr. B.Padmaja, Principal Scientist (Agro.), AICRP on Weed Control and the Mandal Agricultural Officer, Kothur (m), Sri Gopal Naik participated in the programme. The Sarpanch of the village, Sri. Amabati Prabhakar, welcomed the adopted village team. Dr. B. Padmaja created awareness to the farmers of the village about the problems posed and losses to the crops due to parthenium weed. She told that “it is a noxious weed which came from America and fast spread all over India. The yield losses due to the weed range from 40-70% in various crops including the vegetables which are mostly grown in the village. The weed also causes allergy, asthma, and dermatitis in human beings and reduces milk yield in cattle. It has allelopathic effect on other weeds and crops. She stressed that it should be eradicated at the younger stage and explained about the cultural, mechanical, chemical and biological methods. The competitive weeds like Cassia tora and Hyptis suaveolens plants were made identified to the farmers. The mandal agricultural officer, Sri. Gopal Naik also emphasized that the farmers should take an oath to eradicate the weed. Later biological agent i.e. Zygogramma bicolorata beetles were released on the parthenium young plants. On the common land which was infested by parthenium, already flowered plants were uprooted and the young vegetation was sprayed with paraquat @ 5ml/lit. About 50 farmers of the village participated in the awareness programme.