Invasive weed threatens local crops in Kavre

By Our Correspondent Banepa, May 6: Native to tropical America, Singapore Daisy has been identified for the first time in Panchkhal Municipality of Kavre. 

Local farmers are worried that the weeds could affect their food and vegetable crops after the weeds were found on the left bank of the river from Jhikukhola of Panchkhal to Sunkoshi River. Stakeholders have shown interest after seeing Singapore Daisy weed in Panchkhal for the first time in Nepal.

Singapore Daisy which was first identified in 2020 is spreading on the banks of Jhikukhola every year. A team of experts visited Panchkhal a few days ago and discussed about the weed with locals, and municipality representatives. Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre Kavre, Tej Prasad Dawadi, said that the weed had spread on the river bank from Jhikukhola of Panchkhal to Sunkoshi River for the first time in Nepal. "This weed, which can degrade biodiversity, needs to be controlled in time," he added.

He said that this weed would affect the farming system of Panchkhal and the biodiversity of the forest in the future and stakeholders should take a step to manage and control the weed. He said that the research on how the weed got to the place should be carried out since it has been seen only in Panchkhal at present. He said that the weed has not affected the agriculture of Panchkhal so far but it could affect the farming system in the future. Dawadi added that precautions should be taken as it can spread to new places by air or when humans carry it to new places. 

This weed of the sunflower family blooms in yellow or orange colour flower. It is said that this weed can spread easily in all ecological areas from extremely dry to wetland. This weed has spread over an area of 15 kilometres from Jhikukhola of Panchkhal to Sunkoshi Riv