K. Veera Raghava Rao, Collector, called for collective efforts from people belonging to all walks of life to eradicate the harmful parthenium hysterophorous .
Inaugurating a week-long awareness programme on removal of parthenium hysterophorous, commonly referred as parthenium, here on Tuesday, Mr. Rao said that parthenium was not only a problem for the farmers but everyone.
“Today, it is found not only in farm lands but widespread across all places, including roadsides and premises of educational institutions and offices,” he said.
The weed, which reportedly came to India through wheat received from the USA as part of the Public Law (PL) 480 scheme, had become pervasive over the years. Citing a survey, the Collector said that the spread of parthenium was around 20 lakh hectare across the country as of 2009.
The weed caused dermatitis and asthma to human beings when they come into contact, a variety of illnesses for cattle and also affected farming, he said.
S. Kanagaraj, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture (Madurai), said that the weed also consumed large amount of water.
Mr. Kanagaraj said that three methods could be used. “If parthenium has just started growing, people can just pluck them out. If it is of medium size, then pouring a solution of 200 grams of salt mixed with water will help. If the weed has started flowering, then Fernoxone pesticide (10 grams per litre of water) should be sprayed,” he said.
