Congress Grass-Threat to our Ecosystem

Wait, wait! This blog is not about BJP or Congress! This blog is about a weed plant Parthenium.

Congress Grass causes allergy, skin problems, asthma etc.., Parthenium pollen contains potent allergens that may cause dermatitis.

Feverfew Guayule ( Parthenium hysterophorus) is a weed plant, which is widely seen in India, America, and Australia. In India, we call this plant as Congress grass.

This alien weed is believed to have been introduced into India as contaminants in PL 480 wheat (Public Law 480 passed in 1954 to give food grains to developing countries for eliminating starvation and malnutrition) imported from the USA in the 1950s.

Why is it a weed plant?
It affects respiratory systems and also causes major dermatitis problem for humans also it affects animals and crops.

Sad that forest like Mudhumalai, Bandipur has so much of this plant. I’m worried that the animals and trees count will come down in near future because of this weed plant :(

Parthenium weed plant, Mudhumalai, Nilgiris, TN, India

Parthenium weed causes allergy, skin problems, asthma etc.., Parthenium pollen contains potent allergens that may cause dermatitis.

Affected land at Thiruppalai, Madurai, TN, India

I visited few farmers in Sivagangai dt., they are also facing a lot of problems and decrease in cultivation because of this Parthenium weed.

They are using a simple solution, by pulling out the weed and spray the salt water on lands as well as on the weed plant. This salt water helps to destroy the weed plant.

Most of the Australians are suffering from Parthenium Sensitivity, a recent survey at Central Queensland says out of 207 participants 78 of them are affected by this Parthenium. The Australian government is taking necessary action to control the weed.

It has a serious impact on the pastoral industry, costing farmers and graziers in Queensland over $22 million a year in reduced production and increased management costs.

How to eradicate this weed?

It is not easy to eradicate this weed but we can prevent it from spreading to farm lands and unaffected lands.

Don’t pull out the Parthenium weed with your bare hands because of the health risks associated with parthenium weed.

Once removed don’t throw it in any water bodies or in streams, it will spread to unaffected lands. Dump it and fire it. Spray salt water on the affected land. This is one of the way to control this weed.

Time to control Parthenium weed in India, common let's join together and remove Parthenium weed.