ICAR-DGR, Junagadh observed Parthenium Awareness Week (PAW) with full zeal during 16-22 August, 2022. About 80 SC farmers under SCSP Scheme from Ravni village (Junagadh dist.) and 40 staff members participated in the event on 17.08.2022. The committee consisting of chairman, Dr. KK Pal, I/c Head, social sciences and members, Dr. Harish G, chairman SCSP, Dr. KK Reddy and Dr. SD Savaliya organized the programme. Dr. CS Praharaj, Director ICAR-DGR gave the detailed PPT on congress grass origins, its botany, deteriorative effects of congress grass on the human and farm animal health and its control measures. He emphasized that the congress grass cause allergy, dermatitis, skin lesions and bronchitis in milch animals and human beings. Congress grass produces 25,000 seeds/plant and 0.62 billlion pollen/plant. Congress grass inhibits the germination (allelopathy), radical growth, activity of nitrogen fixing and nitrifying bacteria and acts as collateral host for many diseases caused by viruses in crop plants. He also pointed pointed out to farmers that the parthenium weed can be controlled effectively by uprooting before seed setting, spray of 2, 4-D or glyphosate, application of leaf-feeding beetle (Zygogramma bicolorata) and the stem galling moth (Epiblema strenuana). Farmers were given farm kits at the end of the programme

Inputs: KK Pal, Harish G, KK Reddy and SD Savaliya