PJTSAU - AICRP on Weed Management - Hyderabad - Parthenium Awareness Week, 16-8-2023 to 22-8-2023

As part of “PARTHENIUM AWARENESS WEEK” from 16-22, 2023 AICRP on Weed Management, Rajendranagar conducted series of awareness programmes in colleges and offices and also through print and electronic media. The detailed programme is given hereunder:
16-8-2023:
On the first day, an awareness programme on ill effects of Parthenium was conducted at Agrobiodiversity Park, PJTSAU, Hyderabad and the Parthenium plants were uprooted in the park. Speaking in the awareness programme, Dr. B. Padmaja, Principal Scientist (Agro), explained the employees and workers about the ill effects of parthenium on crops, livestock and human beings. It is a threat to the biodiversity replacing the native plant species which leads to shortage of fodder/forage to the animals and also butterflies and honey bees. The participants took an oath to eradicate the noxious weed in their home and office premises.
17-8-2023:
The ‘Parthenium’ Awareness programme was organized at Regional Agricultural Research Station, PJTSAU, Palem, with the participation of College of Agriculture, PJTSAU, Palem, Agricultural Polytechnic, Palem, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palem and District Agricultural Advisory and Technology Transfer Centre (DAATTC), Palem. Dr. B. Padmaja, Principal Scientist (Agro), AICRP on Weed Management, PJTSAU, Hyderabad centre participated in the event. The programme was chaired by Dr. M. Malla Reddy, Associate Director of Research, RARS, Palem. Dr. B. Padmaja explained the history, life cycle, distribution, ill effects of Parthenium weed on crops, humans and animals with the help of power point presentation. She also demonstrated various control methods of the weed and stressed that it should be eradicated before flowering. Dr. B. Pushpavathi, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Palem urged the students and staff to take an oath to eradicate the weed and to create awareness among the farmers, school children and general public. The staff of KVK, Palem, DAATTC Palem, Agricultural Polytechnic, Palem and students uprooted the Parthenium weed. Dr. Kalyani, Principal i/c, APT, Palem, Dr. K. Vanisree, Principal Scientist (Oilseeds), Dr. Bharath Bhushan, Coordinator, DAATT centre, Palem also graced the programme. Around 250 staff and students participated in the event. It was covered in the district print media. A TV programme was rendered to ETV Annadatha on the importance of Parthenium Eradication by Dr. B. Padmaja, Principal Scientist (Agro), AICRP WM, Hyderabad centre.
18-8-2023:
On the third day, awareness programme was organized at the College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The students were explained about the losses caused by the Parthenium weed in the field and vegetable crops and its control measures. Dr. M. Yakadri, Professor and Head, Department of Agronomy, Dr. P. Revathi, Associate Professor (Agronomy) and Dr. Sudhanshu, Associate Professor (Agronomy) participated in the event. The students were guided on identification of Zygogramma beetles on Parthenium.
19-8-2023:
As part of “PARTHENIUM AWARENESS WEEK” from 16-22, 2021 AICRP on Weed Management, Rajendranagar conducted an awareness programme at Krishi High School, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Essay writing competition was conducted for the students of 8th, 9th and 10th class in the morning session. Later in the afternoon, in a meeting held in the school, Dr. B. Padmaja created awareness to the students and staff 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% in various crops and upto 90% in fodders. 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 students. Dr. T. Ram Prakash also emphasized that the students should take an oath to eradicate the weed and explained about the control and eradication measures of the weed. Certificates and prizes were distributed to the winners. Later a rally was conducted with the students and staff of the school.
21-8-2023:
The parthenium awareness programme continued on 21-8-2023 at Agricultural Polytechnic, PJTSAU, Tornala. Essay writing competitions were conducted to the students of Agricultural Polytechnic and prizes were distributed. Dr. T. Ramprakash, Principal Scientist (SSAC) & Head, AICRP on Weed Management, PJTSAU delivered the lecture on “Parthenium Eradication” on 22-8-2023 and uprooting of the weed in the premises was followed.
22-8-2023:
Parthenium awareness programme was conducted at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Hyderabad and ARS, Karimnagar on 22-8-2023. At Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar, awareness programme on the eradication of parthenium weed was held with the participation of the staff of ARS, Karimnagar and DAATT centre, PJTSAU, Karimangar. RAWEP students attached to DAATT centre, Karimnagar took lead in arranging the programme. The students of the Laurels School, Karimnagar also participated in the programme. Dr. B. Padmaja, Principal Scientist (Agro), AICRPWM explained the weed biology, losses and threats posed to the environment, human and animal health. She emphasized that society at large should be aware of the problem and the eradication of the weed from the fields, non cropped areas, field bunds, road sides, and canal banks etc is the need of the hour. Dr. Manjulatha, Principal Scientist (Agro) & Head, ARS, Karimanagar urged the gathering to adopt integrated management strategies for the control of the weed. Smt Priya Darsini, Project Director, ATMA, Karimnagar and DAO office nominee Smt Anjani Devi, ADA, Karimnagar also participated and promised to sprad the message among the farming community. The progressive farmers from the district (15 number) attended and shred their views on the problems posed by the weed. The students of BSc (Agriculture), exhibited the charts on different aspects of parthenium weed including its utilization for compost. The school children appreciated the message and promised to uproot the weed whenever they find it. Later, the parthenium weed was uprooted in the office premises.
At ICRISAT, Patancheru, Hyderabad:
Dr. T. Ramprakash, Principal Scientist (SSAC) & Head, AICRP on Weed Management, PJTSAU delivered a lecture on the introduction, biology of the weed threats posed by the weed to the environment and crops and integrated control measures. It was followed by the uprooting activity of the weed by the staff of ICRISAT.