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At first glance, it appears harmless. Standing two to three feet tall, with lush green leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers, the plant closely resembles coriander. But beneath its unassuming appearance lies a growing threat to agriculture, public health, and livestock.
Parthenium (*Parthenium hysterophorus*), one of the world’s most aggressive and toxic invasive weeds, is spreading rapidly across Chuadanga, raising alarm among farmers, agricultural experts, and health professionals.
They warn that failure to contain the weed at this stage could lead to serious long-term consequences.
Field visits and local inquiries reveal that parthenium has already spread across all four upazilas of the district—Chuadanga Sadar, Alamdanga, Damurhuda, and Jibannagar.
The plant is now commonly seen along roadsides, railway tracks, fallow lands, border areas, and increasingly, near croplands.
Despite its widespread presence, most residents remain unaware of the plant’s identity or the risks it poses.
Originally native to the Americas, parthenium is believed to have entered Bangladesh through neighbouring India before gradually spreading across various regions.
Its rapid proliferation is largely due to its high reproductive capacity. Although the plant has a short life cycle of three to four months, a single specimen can produce thousands of seeds multiple times during its lifespan.
These seeds are easily dispersed by wind, rainwater, vehicles, and animals, enabling the weed to invade new areas quickly.
Local farmers say the plant has become significantly more visible over the past few years, often encroaching on agricultural land and reducing crop yields.
Experts warn that parthenium not only competes with crops for nutrients, sunlight, and water but also releases toxic chemicals into the soil that inhibit the growth of surrounding plants.
Health specialists also caution that exposure to the weed can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, respiratory problems, and eye infections in humans.
Livestock grazing on contaminated land may suffer from toxicity, reduced milk production, and other health complications.
Agricultural officials stress the need for immediate awareness campaigns and coordinated control measures to prevent further spread. They recommend early identification, manual removal before flowering, and the use of appropriate herbicides where necessary.
Without timely intervention, they warn, parthenium could pose a serious threat to food security, biodiversity, and public health in the region.