Invasives Blog

Parthenium weed causes harm to the environment, health, as well as the economy.

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CABI has launched a comprehensive action plan aimed at combating the scourge of Parthenium, a highly invasive species of weed, prevalent and spreading in Pakistan.

The comprehensive Parthenium Weed Management Action Plan was unveiled during a two-day workshop held in Islamabad on 8th and 9th October 2018. The workshop’s main objectives were to share experiences and information on Parthenium weed’s presence and impacts in Pakistan, and draft an initial comprehensive action plan in the short, medium and long term.

Crucially, the workshop also served as a gateway to facilitating the management of all invasive species, beyond Parthenium. “We asked participants to really think outside the box in terms of outreach, policy, and research – using Parthenium as a stepping stone to consider how to tackle other invasive species threats to Pakistan,” commented Julien Godwin, programme support manager for Action on Invasives.

The action plan comprises of three stages: research, development and communication. It will emphasise on strengthening links between stakeholders to set priorities, list key activities and institutions involved. It will focus on developing a Weed Management Decision Guide (WMDG) in order to utilise best practices for early detection, prevention and control. The weed can be controlled by chemicals but they are toxic for the environment. This is where CABI comes in to assist farmers by providing them with an integrated and sustainable framework to address the issue of invasive weed. These not only include potential control methods, but also outreach programmes to ensure farmers, as well as the public, are aware of this destructive and dangerous weed.

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Parthenium’s delicate flowers make it attractive to use in bouquets as filler

Each year, invasive species are estimated to cost the global economy more than US$1.4 trillion. The burden of invasive weeds is heavily bared by the most vulnerable and poorest. In Southeast Asia, every year, invasive species cost at least US$33 billion, reducing the total GDP by 5%. It is one of CABI’s objectives to protect and restore the agriculture sector, improve health and refurbish natural ecosystems. Eventually, this will be achieved through the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS)-funded Action on Invasives initiative that aims to help improve the livelihoods of approximately 50 million poor rural households, affected by invasive species in Asia and Africa.

Parthenium manipulates the ecology of fields, affects yield of crops, and invades forests through its aggressive nature and allelopathy (hindering development of different plants). It even causes serious threats to surrounding livestock and has the capability to cause rigorous allergies among humans who regularly interact with the weed. In India, Parthenium has resulted in yield losses of up to 40% in various crops. In terms of pasture production, this noxious weed has been found to reduce livestock carrying capacities by 90%. And at a previous workshop held by CABI, Dr Asad Shabbir, assistant professor in the department of Botany at the University of Punjab, predicted Pakistan would be extensively hit.

Known commonly as ‘Gajar booti’, Parthenium looks very beautiful nestled within its white flowers, and is often used locally on daily occasions in bouquets or event decorations. Most people remain oblivious to the health hazards posed by this noxious weed. Its pollen spreads through the air and can cause asthma, eye irritation, throat infections, and eczema. It has also been known to cause allergies and digestive problems within livestock and other animal species, as well as humans.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr Babar Bajwa, Regional Director of CABI CWA Pakistan, said, “Parthenium is a deadly weed that destroys crops and is also harmful to one’s health. Along with farmers, it is essential that the general public be aware of the presence of this silent enemy living amongst them. We are confident that the CABI Action Plan to combat Parthenium will take great strides in helping prevent the growth and spread of this destructive pest, and that what we have learned from our actions here in Pakistan so far will guide is in developing an overall mechanism for managing other invasive species.”

To find out more about Parthenium and how to control it, visit the Parthenium information portal→

5 Comments

  1. Dr K. Dhileepan on 9th October 2018 at 12:14

    Excellent initiative.
    Dhileepan

  2. […] via CABI unveils action plan to fight highly invasive and destructive weed — The Invasives Blog […]

  3. […] October 2018, CABI held a two-day workshop in Islamabad with the aim of revising a comprehensive national action plan to tackle parthenium in Pakistan. […]

  4. […] CABI unveils action plan to fight highly invasive and destructive weed […]

  5. […] October 2018, CABI held a two-day workshop in Islamabad with the aim of revising a comprehensive national action plan to tackle parthenium in Pakistan. […]

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