YouTube Live Programme under 20th Parthenium Awareness Week 2025

ICAR–Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, in collaboration with Reliance Foundation, organized a YouTube Live Programme on August 20, 2025, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM as part of the 20th Parthenium Awareness Week. The programme aimed to create awareness about the harmful effects of Parthenium weed and to provide farmers with practical solutions for its effective management.

The event provided a unique platform for real-time interaction with farmers, where participants from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka raised their queries related not only to Parthenium but also to broader agriculture and crop management challenges. The experts addressed these queries instantly, offering scientific and practical solutions suited to local conditions, which was highly appreciated by the participants. The expert panel comprised Dr. P. K. Singh, Chairman, Parthenium Awareness Week; and scientists Dr. Archana Anokhe, Dr. Deepak Pawar, Dr. JK Soni, and Dr. Deeksha M.G. They highlighted the adverse impacts of Parthenium on crop productivity, livestock health, and human wellbeing, while also emphasizing integrated management strategies combining cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control methods.

From Reliance Foundation, Mr. Anil Kumar Raidas, Manager (Jabalpur, Mandla, and Balaghat), and Mr. Pradeep Badiya, Manager (Helpline Support, Indore), joined the live session and extended their support to enhance the programme’s outreach. Their collaboration helped in connecting a wider network of farmers to the session. The programme received an encouraging response with more than 200 participants joining live, reflecting its success in sensitizing stakeholders and delivering practical, field-oriented solutions. Such interactive online initiatives not only strengthen farmer-scientist linkages but also ensure that scientific knowledge is translated into action at the grassroots level.