CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s announcement on June 5, marking World Environment Day, that the single-use plastics would be banned from January 1 has triggered another environment-related demand. This time it’s related to agriculture — the eradication of Parthenium (Parthenium Hysterophorus). Efforts to eradicate the invasive species have been made over the past few decades in Tamil Nadu, but with little effect.
In India, the weed was seen only from the mid-Fifties and is believed to have entered the country along with wheat imported from the United States. However, its spread across the country has been very rapid with abnormal density. It is present virtually everywhere now.
Though various state governments have been engaged in awareness programmes to eradicate the Parthenium weeds over the years, the efforts gained momentum in Tamil Nadu when, on August 10, 2011, late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced in the State Assembly that elimination of the weed would be taken up as a mission. She said this in response to a question from AIADMK MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, who had seen this weed play havoc on his agricultural lands.
Following this, the agriculture department and district collectors started organising awareness campaigns to root out the invasive weed. However, the momentum fizzled out and since 2016 there have been no significant efforts in this direction.
Meanwhile, farmers and environmental activists are divided on the issue. Farmers are of the view that it is indeed a poisonous weed that should be eliminated. Environmental activists, on the other hand, think it should not be eradicated but rather kept under control as it can help in making compost and weedicides.
“I have had first-hand experiences about the evils of Parthenium as a farmer. When I cultivate maize or sorghum, Parthenium will grow much faster than the crops and ultimately the yield will be affected. The present government should take expeditious steps to resume the efforts to eradicate this,” Thanga Tamilselvan, who raised the issue seven years ago, told Express.
After the CM’s announced the ban on plastics, GK Nagaraj, vice president of State BJP, sent him a memorandum seeking fresh initiatives to eradicate the weed that has caused widespread damage to all varieties of crops. “The microorganisms used to eradicate this weed had started affecting papaya fruits instead of destroying the weed. At present, this invasive weed has been causing enormous hardship to farmers in the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Nilgiris,” Nagaraj said in the memorandum.
Nagaraj told Express that this weed had invaded every crop — betelnut trees, banana crops, coconut trees, pulses and vegetables. “If this is not eradicated, it would be a big challenge to the farmers in future,” he warned.
The common complaint against Parthenium among the farmers is that weed grows rapidly. This hinders the growth of pulses, vegetables, greens, rainfed crops, cattle feed, etc. The second problem is that removing the weeds costs farmers dearly as workers hesitate to take on the job for fear of health hazards that include respiratory and dermatological allergies.
“Manual removal causes many skin diseases. This weed will grow above the crops and the yield will be low. If cattle eat it, there is a possibility of aborting pregnancy. We have given many representations to District Collector to no effect,” N Dhandapani, a 65-year-old farmer from Sulur in Coimbatore district said.
Seventy-year-old SA Chinnasamy of Seerampatti village in Dharmapuri district shares similar views. He said Parthenium was worse than plastics and, as such, should be removed totally. “Efforts in some pockets won’t be of any use. It should be a massive drive across the State,” he said.
But Marutham Kumar, managing trustee of Vanagam (Nammalvar-Ecological Foundation) in Karur has had a different experience with the weed on his land at Nathipalayam village in Erode district. “It is said that manual handling of Parthenium will cause dermatitis and respiratory diseases. But our experience shows otherwise. My children, wife, workers and I handle Parthenium manually in our land. No one has been affected by any disease so far. Even cattle stock consume this to some extent when the shrub is in its early stage. So, human beings and animals have the capacity to get accustomed to it in due course,” he claimed.
“Nature does not keep anything to waste. The seeds of Parthenium can spread through air easily. So how long can we go on removing it? Using this to our advantage would be the wiser move. Encouraging an anti-Parthenium campaign will put our farmers before multinational companies for weedicides to eradicate this,” he said.
He explained that according to ‘the law of return’ nutrients removed from the soil must be returned in the quantities taken away, in order to maintain a ecological balance and fertility in the soil. When we plough with Parthenium in its early stage, it becomes natural manure. “When Parthenium started growing in abundance, I started using it as a manure.
And now I don’t think Parthenium as my enemy,” he said.
Pamayan, one of the key organic farming activists too said, “We need not remove Parthenium. It can be used for making compost. This can also be used as weedicides. We handle this weed manually but faced no problems. The pollen of this plant may cause some allergy symptoms for some people. So, what we have to do is to remove this plant in its early stage — before it blossoms — and use it for making The weed explained
Parthenium (Parthenium Hysterophorus) also known as star weed, carrot weed, white cap, white top, etc. has been found growing naturally since centuries in Mexico, North and South America, Australia, China, Pacific islands, East and South Africa and Canada.
In India, it is noticed only from mid-fifties and is believed to have entered India while wheat was imported from United States.However, it’s spread throughout the country has been very rapid with abnormal density
Parthenium can germinate, flower and set seeds within four weeks. Once established, it can survive even severe drought. Since 1977, the weed has become one of the seven most dreaded weeds
Botanical name: Parthenium Hysterophorus L.
Family: Compositae (Asteraceae)
Common name: Congress Weed
Tamil name: Vishapoondu