Port Blair, Aug 24: Parthenium awareness programme was conducted at Harminder Bay recently by ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. Under the guidance of Dr. S.Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Dr. B. Gangaiah, Head (NRM) and Dr. T. Subramani, Scientist coordinated the programme. Mr. Fred Levi, Captain, Mr. Festus, Secretary, and 50 tribal farmers of Harminder Bay, Little Andaman participated in the programme.
The villagers were made aware of agricultural and health problems associated with the presence of Parthenium weed in the crop fields and also in their house vicinities. In order to create awareness about this deadly Parthenium, this awareness programme was organized covering various aspects like occurrence of Parthenium in different places of Little Andaman, its impact on crops and biodiversity, human beings, livestock and its integrated management. The utilization of Parthenium by making compost was also dealt in the programme. The role of Cassia sericea and Cassia tora present in the village in Parthenium suppression was shown practically. Release of Mexican beetle for control of Parthenium was also informed to the stakeholder. Uprooting the Parthenium before flowering was emphasized to curtail its spread to other places. The tribal farmers and school children have actively participated in the eradication of Parthenium from their residential areas. During the programme, folders on ecological management of Parthenium in English and Hindi were distributed to the farmers.
