The plant protection wing of the government is deeply concerned about rapid spread of highly invasive parthenium in north-western and south-western regions as this new alien weed will be the cause of 40% loss of agricultural produce.
Rice, wheat, maize, potato, tomato, groundnut, pea, sugarcane, cotton and other crops are the major victims of Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorous) detected in the bordering areas of the greater Rajshahi, Kushtia and Jessore districts.
In addition to causing skin diseases and respiratory malfunctions Parthenium’s toxic Parthenin harms cattle and domestic animals. Parthenin is also the cause of pollen allergy.
At an internal meeting in Dhaka on May 8 the quarantine entomologists from across the country warned about the danger of parthenium suggesting its immediate check.
This is the second detection of an alien organism in Bangladesh after the Giant Mealy Bug that has spread different parts of Dhaka since its first spotting in a naval base in the capital.
“Unless stopped immediately, this highly invasive species will hugely harm our crop cultivation. It can cause up to 40% loss of agricultural yield, including rice, potato, sugarcane and others,” Ahsan Ullah, a quarantine entomologist at the plant protection wing, said.
He said Bangladesh was immune from parthenium, the newest alien species that sneaked into here, possibly through the consignments of imported wheat and food items.
Manjurul Haque, the entomologist posted at the Sonamasjid Land Port in Chapainawabganj, said: “We have spotted huge presence of parthenium in the bordering areas in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Jessore, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Jhenaidah districts and other adjoining areas.”
Jashim Uddin, another entomologist posted at the Bhomra Land Port, said he also saw parthenium in Satkhira terming the weed alarming.
Available literature says the apparently invisible parthenium came to India’s Pune in 1955 through wheat consignments, strongly believed from the USA, ultimately spread into other parts.
This is also seen in Australia that exports wheat to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh imports huge food grains from India through land ports where the plant protection wing has quarantine centres for checking invasive species. But informal trade was another likely cause of parthenium’s intrusion.
Ahsan Ullah said the farmers in the US and other developed countries harvest crops by machines causing the mix of parthenium seed with the lot and ultimately affecting the importing nations.
“A single plant produces 10,000 flower heads and spread into the eco-system. It spreads fast and eats up the food and nutrients of the crops. Besides, the invasive plant can adapt to almost all adverse climatic conditions,” he said.
Ahsan said the quarantine department lacked adequate human resources, logistics and resources to check parthenium.
