PASIGHAT, 20 Aug: Sixty-six BSc. horticulture (honours) and BSc. forestry (honours) students participated in an awareness programme on parthenium weed, organised by the College of Horticulture & Forestry (CHF) here, at Komlighat on Tuesday.
The programme, which was organised in collaboration with the College of Agriculture and the East Siang KVK, was chaired by CHF Dean prof B.N Hazarika.
“Parthenium, commonly known as congress grass, gajargrass, white cap or top, carrot weed and safed topi, is an alien invasive weed of national importance,” the CHF informed in a release.
Addressing the students, prof. Hazarika said, “This weed is very dangerous and causes many health hazards for humans.”
“The pollen grains, airborne dried plant parts and roots of parthenium cause various allergies like contact dermatitis, hay fever, asthma and bronchitis in human beings,” the release stated.
AICRN-Potential Crop PI Dr. P. Debnath, agronomy assistant professor Dr. Dinesh Kumar and associate professor Dr. A.S Barman also spoke, it further said.
