20th Parthenium Awareness Week Observed at KVK Ranga Reddy, ICAR-CRIDA

16–22 August 2025, Hyderabad

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranga Reddy, under the ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, observed the 20th Parthenium Awareness Week from 16 to 22 August 2025. The initiative aimed to highlight the harmful effects of Parthenium hysterophorus (commonly known as carrot weed, congress grass, or gajarghas) and to promote its effective management for sustainable agriculture and public health.

A series of awareness activities were conducted to keep the KVK campus, demonstration farms, and nearby farmers’ fields free from Parthenium. Campaigns extended across surrounding villages, the Hayathnagar research farm campus, and local schools.

During the week, experts highlighted Parthenium as a highly aggressive invasive weed causing significant losses in crop yield, livestock productivity, and posing health hazards such as dermatitis and respiratory issues. Participants were sensitized to integrated management practices combining mechanical methods (hand-pulling, mowing), cultural techniques (crop rotation, competitive cropping), biological control (use of Zygogramma bicolorata), and safe herbicide applications. Live demonstrations on biological control and composting of Parthenium biomass were also conducted.

The programme also underscored the nuisance caused by Parthenium in non-cropped areas, including residential localities, roadsides, parks, and railway tracks. As part of the event, a Swachhta cleaning drive was organized to physically remove Parthenium weeds from the KVK campus, with active participation from staff, students, and farmers.

The week-long campaign reinforced the need for integrated weed management (IWM) approaches to sustainably suppress Parthenium spread and safeguard agriculture, livestock, and human health.

Participation included around 60 B.Sc. RAWE students, 102 school students from Vivekananda High School, 121 farmers, and 66 farm women from Ranga Reddy and Vikarabad districts.

(Source: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad)