Experts raise red flag over spread of toxic weed
Men try to pull out the hyacinth weed that has covered part of Lake Vitoria in Kisumu's at Kichinjio beach. Researchers have raised the alarm over the emergence of a highly poisonous weed that is more dangerous than the hyacinth. PHOTO/FILE
Just like the hyacinth in the early 1990s, and Striga weed a decade later, the Parthenium hysterophorusa weed threatens to hurt flora and fauna if allowed to spread.
And now there are fears that unless the government acts immediately, the weed in several parts of the country will reduce agricultural and livestock productivity and adversely affect wildlife in the country.
At great risk are farmlands, grazing fields, national parks and game reserves due to attack by the weed also known as Santa Maria feverfew.
Multiply and spread
The weed can multiply and spread very fast while inhibiting other underground growth.
According to the Director of Agriculture, Mr Humphrey Mwangi, the weed has been growing alarmingly since it was noticed last year.
“The weed was designated by agricultural authorities in the Ministry of Agriculture as injurious to agricultural crops because it grows aggressively, multiplies quickly and adversely affects plants,” said Mr Mwangi.
Mr Mwangi noted that the weed had limited distribution but had potential of harming human health and the environment as well.
He said adverse impacts of the weed far exceeded the cost of implementing the control measures.
Ms Triza Karanja a Pathology and Weeds Officer at the ministry said the impact on the noxious weed was reduction in agricultural yields, grain weight and also acts as alternate host to crop pests.
According to Ms Karanja, there was also enormous impact on animal husbandry where the weed could reduce pasture carrying capacity up to 90 per cent.
“The problem with the weed is that it colonises other plants and becomes the dominant weed, therefore inhibiting the growth of grazing grass which eventually leads to loss of pasture,” said Mr Karanja.
She added that the weed was abundant in Nairobi and infestations have been seen in villages in Kiambu, Nyeri, Narok, and roadside towns from Mombasa to the border town of Busia.
Other serious dangers have been raised over the growth of the weed in a wild life game reserves and national parks.
