Lok Sabha Question No. 611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Losses of Farm Produce due to Weeds
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 611 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/02/2018

## LOSSES OF FARM PRODUCE DUE TO WEEDS

## 611. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  according  to  a  survey  conducted  by  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Research Association of India, the 10 major crops suffer huge economic losses due to weeds every year in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the efforts are being made by the Government to tackle the menace of weed so that these losses may be reduced substantially; and
- (c) whether it is fact that weeds are responsible for decreasing production of eight most important food and cash crops by 13.6 per cent globally and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) Yes, Madam.  A study was conducted to estimate the yield and economic losses due to  weeds  using  the  data  from  1581  On-Farm  Research  trials  conducted  by  All  India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Weed Management between 2003- 2014 in 10 major  field  crops  in  different  districts  of  18  states  of  India.  The  economic  losses  due  to weeds alone in 10 major crops of India were highest in rice followed by wheat and soybean. The details are given in Annexure-I .
- (b) ICAR  through  DWR,  Jabalpur,  AICRP  on  Weed  Management,  other  institutes, KVK's and State Departments of Agriculture is providing technical advisory/recommendations on weed management in major crops. ICAR-DWR and AICRPWeed Management centres are also conducting on-farm research trial/field demonstration, Farmers' fair, Farmer-Scientist interactions, Kisan Sangosthi and capacity building programmes to create awareness among farmers and other stakeholders to adopt improved weed management technologies in different crops to reduce/minimize economic losses due to  weeds.  The  developed/validated  weed  management  practices  are  also  included  in package of practices of respective states to tackle the menace of weeds.
- (c) Weeds  are  responsible  for  decreasing  the  production  of  most  important  food  and cash crops by 13.2%. The details are given in Annexure-II .

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Economic losses due to weeds

| Crop        |   Losses (in US$ in millions) |
|-------------|-------------------------------|
| Rice        |                          4420 |
| Soybean     |                          1559 |
| Groundnut   |                           283 |
| Pearlmillet |                            17 |
| Sorghum     |                           276 |
| Greengram   |                           161 |
| Sesame      |                            50 |
| Wheat       |                          3376 |
| Maize       |                           739 |
| Mustard     |                            72 |

Actual losses due to weeds in major Indian crops

| Crop                 |   Actual losses due to weeds (%) |
|----------------------|----------------------------------|
| Wheat                |                             18.6 |
| Rice (transplanted)  |                             13.8 |
| Rice (direct-seeded) |                             21.4 |
| Maize                |                             25.3 |
| Groundnut            |                             35.8 |
| Soybean              |                             31.4 |
| Green gram           |                             30.8 |
| Sesame               |                             23.7 |
| Pearlmillet          |                             27.6 |
| Mustard              |                             21.4 |
| Sorghum              |                             25.1 |

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References  indicating  decreasing  production  of  important  food  and  cash  crops  due  to weeds:

1. Oerke, E.C., 2006. Crop losses to pests: centenary review. Journal of Agricultural Science 144, 31-43.
2. Sardana, V., Mahaja, G, Jabran, K. and Chauhan B.S. 2017. Role of competition in managing weeds; an introduction to the special issue. Crop Protection 95: 1-7.
3. Yaduraju, N.T., 2012. Weed management perspectives for India in the changing agriculture  scenario  in  the  country.  Pakistan  Journal  of  Weed  Science  Research 18: 703-710.

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