Gonda: A Carrot Grass Awareness Day was organised at Chhitaijot village in Mankapur block of Gonda on August 19 as part of the nationwide Carrot Grass Awareness Week being conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Institute of Weed Science, Jabalpur.
The programme was organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Mankapur, under Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, with the objective of creating awareness among farmers about the identification, harmful effects, eradication and management of carrot grass.
Dr Ram Lakhan Singh, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) at KVK Mankapur, explained the characteristics and harmful effects of the weed to farmers. He said carrot grass is commonly known as Parthenium, while its scientific name is Parthenium hysterophorus. The weed is believed to have entered India along with wheat seed imported from Mexico and was first observed in Pune in 1956.
Describing carrot grass as a highly harmful weed, Dr Singh said it poses serious risks to human health, livestock and the environment. A single plant can produce between 1,000 and 50,000 seeds during its lifetime, while its life cycle lasts approximately three to four months.
He cautioned that contact with the plant can trigger health problems, including asthma and various skin-related disorders. Its rapid multiplication also makes timely management essential to prevent its spread.
Dr Gyan Deep Gupta stressed that carrot grass should preferably be uprooted and eliminated before it flowers. He said that before flowering, the weed can also be used for preparing compost under appropriate management practices. He further informed farmers that the Mexican beetle can feed on the plant and help in its biological management.
Farmers attending the programme were encouraged to identify carrot grass in their fields, along roadsides and other common areas and undertake collective efforts for its eradication.
Rajesh Kumar Verma, Ramsagar Verma, Ramshankar, Om Prakash, Deepak, Vishesh and Ruchi Verma participated in the awareness programme and learned about the identification and management of the weed. The participants also took a collective pledge to work towards the eradication of carrot grass from their surroundings.
The programme highlighted the importance of community participation and timely weed management to protect agricultural productivity, human and animal health, and the local environment.
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