Parthenium, a toxic weed, is responsible for yield decline upto 40 per cent in agricultural crops whereas it may emerge as most hazardous for human and animals’ lives than dengue within a decade.

Experts stated this while addressing a national seminar on parthenium arranged by Institute of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development UAF and the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI).UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that parthenium is spreading at an alarming rate across the country as it is extremely harmful for human beings, animals and plants. He said that unfortunate, no systemic research had been conducted so far on the said weed. He said that plant gives 10,000 seeds that resulted in its massive outbreak. He added that proper quantile measures were needed to have a check on our import on agriculture but mechanism was far lagging behind. He added that all parts of parthenium at any stage are toxic to humans and animals. Human in contact with any part of the weed can develop allergy, asthma, eyes and nose diseases etc . He said parthenium can be managed using a combination of methods including preventive, cultural biological, manual, mechanical and herbicides. CABI Deputy Director Dr Abdul Rehman showed his concern that parthenium weed was being used in floral bouquets. He said that it is essential that the general public and farming community should be aware of presence of the said silent enemy living amongst them. He said that invasive species approximately cost the global economy more than $1.4 trillion. The burden of invasive weeds is heavily borne by the most vulnerable and poorest. Dean Social Sciences UAF Dr Mehmood A Randhawa said that in the last 25 days, the UAF in collaboration with CABI had conducted 23 awareness sessions especially in different villages on parthenism. H said that gloves should be used while removing the weed. Dr Ijaz Ashraf said that there are 30,000 weeds in the world in which 18,000 are harmful. He said that parthenium is among the top 10 most dangerous weed. He said that it is alarming to note that some Hakeem were using the weed to treat some diseases. The trend is most dangerous and the weed is responsible for the outbreak of many diseases in human being. Dr Naima Nawaz also spoke on the occasion.