ICAR-DWR, Jabalpur, in collaboration with Krishak Jagat, Indore, organized a webinar on August 20, 2024, for raising awareness about the detrimental effects of Parthenium and its management options. In his introductory remarks, Mr. Sachin Bondriya, Director of Krishak Jagat highlighted the importance of the topic and congratulated the DWR for organizing such programme for the benefit of farmers and other stakeholders. Key presentations were delivered by Dr. J.S. Mishra, Director, Dr. P.K. Singh, Principal Scientist and Dr. Archana Anokhe, from ICAR-DWR. The webinar was chaired by Dr. A. K. Gogoi, former ADG (NRM) of ICAR.

The webinar provided a comprehensive view on Parthenium, including its spread, harmful impacts, and a range of management strategies, including physical, cultural, chemical, biological and integrated approaches. Additionally, the potential use of Parthenium in vermicomposting was also suggested. An interactive session allowed participants to engage directly with scientists to address their queries.

The event attracted a diverse audience of 210 participants, including farmers, students, extension functionaries, scientists, state government officials, NGOs, and policymakers from 13 states across the country. The webinar was broadcast live on YouTube, attracting 17,000 viewers, and was also streamed on Facebook through the Krishak Jagat platform.