Money grows on weeds!

Weeds are hazardous for a crop's growth and are generally thought of as a nuisance by farmers. However, a student at Gujarat University's botany department has come up with an innovative thesis that lists unknown uses of weeds in the form of medicinal plants, fodder, fertiliser and vegetables.

The thesis titled 'Weeds of Major Crops Species and their Economics' written by Yogesh Patel, talks about how farmers can make some extra moolah by selling edible weeds — chil and tanddalja.

The weed is sold in the market in winters and farmers are also able to save money as they no longer have to spend huge sums to de-weed the main crop of wheat, rice or maize.
For the thesis, a study was carried out on weeds where 126 species from 97 genera and 39 families were recorded from the surveyed crops of Gujarat.

Patel said there were 53 species of weeds which catered to medicinal needs, 60 which could be used as fodder and 12 that could be used as vegetables.

Those that could be used as medicine include — zini khapat or Abutilon fruticosam, guill perr, andhedi or Achyranthus aspera L, gorakhdi, kantalo tandaljo and chil. Some of the weeds that could be used as fodder are gorakhdi, satodi and dungalo. 

Among the 126 species of weeds, 36 belong to monocotyledon group, 25 to annual and 11 to perennial, said Patel who completed his study under Prof YT Jasrai, head of the botany department.  Patel has drawn an estimate of expenditure incurred by farmers for de-weeding crops. "A farmer has to spend Rs15,000 for de-weeding a wheat crop, Rs19,413 for pearl millet, Rs22,500 for sorghum and rice and Rs28,000 for tomato crop," he says.

The expense could, however, be turned into revenue if he collects the edible weeds and sell them in the wholesale market. Farmers can earn a lot from edible weeds, adds Patel.