CHAKWAL: Until a few years ago, boundaries of the fields and vacant plots, particularly adjacent to the villages, used to be covered with large and thick plants of hemp (Bhang), a weed, which was wrongly projected as a cheap narcotic in the Subcontinent but actually it would have plenty of uses such as food, fibre, bio-fuel, oil, cordage, etc.

Hemp, which is ingrained in the culture of Punjab and was immortalised by Great Punjabi Poet Waris Shah through his villain Qaidu, remains an ignored commodity in our culture despite the fact that the country has huge potential for its industrial cultivation.

On the other hand, our friend China being the largest producer of hemp in the world earns more than $1 billion annually from its sale.

Its cultivation was legalised in the US in 2018 by President Trump but here in Pakistan its industrial cultivation is a forlorn dream. We are even set to lose hemp as Parthenium, considered to be a deadliest weed, is fast taking over it.

The boundaries of the fields and vacant plots which used to be covered with hemp a few years ago have now been occupied by Parthenium, also known as Gajar Booti or carrot grass.

Mostly grown in Mexico, Central and South America, parthenium was accidentally brought to India in 1950s when the then Congress led government in New Delhi decided to import wheat in a bid to tackle the wheat shortage in the country. But the wheat was of a poor quality and it also contained parthenium seeds.

As the American variety of wheat was cultivated across India, the parthenium also grown along with the wheat, and due to its invasive nature, it spread all over the country.

By the 1980s it had made its inroads to Pakistan through river water and was first discovered in Gujrat district in 1980s.

Considered as “the deadliest and the most troublesome” weed by experts, Parthenium is equally hazardous to human, livestock, biodiversity and environment.

From the roadsides to the boundaries of the fields, and from the public parks to the houses and even in agriculture fields, it has established its sinister presence, causing an abrupt end to other environment friendly weeds and plants including hemp.

It can be seen throughout Punjab and now even in other provinces too.

In Chakwal, it has taken over the lush green valleys of Salt Range while it is also seen dominating the premises of public places such as parks and educational institutions.

“The seed of parthenium came to Pakistan through Chenab River and being an invasive it takes over local weeds wherever it grows,” says Punjab Agriculture Extension Department Director General Dr Anjum Ali Buttar.

“It is eliminating hemp which is our native weed and is also environment friendly,” he adds.

Dr Anjum explains that one plant of parthenium has the capacity to produce 20,000 to 25,000 seeds.

Dr Mohammad Khalid of Chakwal Agriculture Department tells that apart from severely damaging biodiversity, parthenium also causes allergic reactions to people.

“Parthenium contains a toxic chemical compound called Parthenon,” he said.

The physical contact with the plants causes dermatitis and respiratory malfunction in humans while cattle also suffer dermatitis,” Dr Khalid elaborates.

He adds parthenon which is dangerously toxic also causes bitter milk diseases in livestock when their fodder is polluted with parthenium leaves.

“As its one plant has the capacity to produce thousands of seeds, it is spread easily as its seed which are less in weight can travel miles through different means such as air, water, birds and animals,” says Dr Khalid.

Recently farmers in some Chakwal villages and officials of Chakwal Livestock Department were left shocked when scores of cows died in mysterious circumstances. But when Livestock Department got their blood samples tested, parthenium was turned out to be the killer of scores of cows.

“If cattle graze on it, they can lose their lives as it is very toxic and infected cattle could also cause harm to humans through their milk and meat,” says Dr Altaf Mahmood, diseases investigation officer at Chakwal Livestock Department.

Although we hear about the occasional steps at official level meant to tackle the invasion of parthenium, a comprehensive plan is yet to be launched to eradicate this deadly weed.

“For its biological control a predator from New Zealand has been imported but it is yet to be tested as whether it would only help in eradicating parthenium or would also damage other crops and plants,” says Dr Anjum Ali Buttar.

However, he stresses that best way to get rid of this invasive weed is to introduce a law which offers penalty for those in whose land parthenium is found,” he suggests.

The Chakwal Barani Agricultural Research Institute Director General Dr Azeem Tariq also emphasises the need for a decisive campaign and collective effort to eradicate the insidious parthenium.

“We do not need research on it as we already know that it is the deadliest weed. We only need to raise awareness that it is equally hazardous for humans, livestock and environment,” he adds.

Dr Azeem Tariq further explains that if steps are not taken now to uproot it, it would soon spread into our agriculture fields which would be more dangerous.

“Currently it is grown on roadsides and that’s why farmers are not paying any heed to it but very soon it will take over agriculture lands,” he fears.

Experts stress the need for emergency measures to contain the invasive weeds before it is too late.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2019