The Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) has launched a comprehensive action plan aimed at combating the scourge of Parthenium, a highly invasive species of weed, prevalent and spreading in Pakistan.
The Parthenium Weed Management Action Plan was unveiled during a two-day workshop, sponsored by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID). The workshop's main objectives were to share experiences and information on Parthenium weed's presence and impacts in Pakistan, and draft an initial comprehensive action plan in the short, medium and long term.
The action plan comprises of three stages: research, development and communication. It will emphasise on strengthening links between stakeholders to set priorities, list key activities and institutions involved. It will focus on developing a Weed Management Decision Guide (WMDG) in order to utilise best practices for early detection, prevention and control.
The weed can be controlled by chemicals but they are toxic for the environment. This is where CABI comes in to assist farmers by providing them with an integrated and sustainable framework to address the issue of invasive weed. These not only includes potential control methods, but also outreach programmes to ensure farmers, as well as the public, are aware of this destructive and dangerous weed.
Each year, invasive species approximately cost the global economy more than $1.4 trillion. The burden of invasive weeds is heavily bared by the most vulnerable and poorest. In Southeast Asia, every year, invasive species cost at least US$33 billion, reducing the total GDP by 5 percent.
It is one of CABI's objectives to protect and restore agriculture sector, improve health and refurbish natural ecosystems. Eventually, this will be achieved through the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS)-funded Action on Invasive initiative that aims to help improve the livelihoods of approximately 50 million poor rural households, affected by invasive species in Asia and Africa.
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