Dept on alert against threat posed by weed

KOTA KINABALU: State Agriculture Department Director Idrus Shafie said the department suspects the Rumput Miang Mexico (Parthenium Hysterophorus) weed may also exist in other areas in the State."According to information received, we suspect the weed is also found in other areas in the State but we can't confirm it yet. We can only confirm its existence in Ranau today. Ranau is the first area to report the existence of the weed.

"However, we have notified our department officials in each of the districts on the threat posed by this weed. Now we are just waiting for reports on its existence in other areas," he said.

Idrus said this to reporters at a press conference at Wisma Pertanian, Friday.

When asked whether there were any reports of livestock being affected by the weed, Idrus said to date there had been no reports yet received by the department.

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In reply to a question on how the weed entered the State, Idrus said they don't know yet how it entered the State but said that the weed spreads through its seeds.

An Agriculture Department information pamphlet lists wind, flowing water, livestock feed, imported livestock, livestock movements and vehicle, machinery and other agricultural movements as possible transference vectors for the weed.

Idrus said there is a posibility that the ministry will lead a task force involving the Health Department and other relevant departments to look into the existence and spread of the weed in the State.

"We will identify where the weed is located and also inform the public what the plant looks like and we can also advise the public how to eradicate the weed. So we need to distribute pictures on how the weed looks like to create awareness in the public through various means including social media.

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"The public are advised to contact the nearest agriculture office if they come across the weed. If you find the weed don't go near (as some people may be alergic to the pollen from the flowers) and don't use your bare hands to handle the plants."

"I think this (weed) is a threat (to the nation's agriculture industry) and the media and the department need to work together to spread the message to the public," he said.

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