Technological Innovations in Weed Management for Climate Resilient Sustainable Agri-Food Systems

Weeds are a major biotic constraint that pose a significant threat to crop and non-crop areas. Among several weed management options in place, herbicide-based weed management is considered easier, more cost-effective and economical. However, continuous use of similar herbicides leads to the evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds. Globally, 535 cases of herbicide resistance have been reported and the cases are increasing. Climate change poses additional threats to agriculture, particularly on the efficiency of weed management practices.

The Indian Society of Weed Science (ISWS), established in 1968, is a professional society dedicated to advancing weed science in India. The society actively promotes research, education, and extension activities related to weed management.

The 4th International Weed Conference (IWC) will provide a valuable platform to researchers, academicians, industry professionals, and policymakers to exchange ideas, share innovations, and learn from leading experts in various domains of weed science. Precision weed management using AI/ML, remote sensing, GIS, and drones will be a major focus.

Indian Society of Weed Science

Indian Society of Weed Science (ISWS) was established in 1968 coinciding with the green revolution in the country. Dr. R.S. Choudhry of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) was the first president and Dr. M.K. Moolani of Hisar (Haryana) was the first Secretary of the society. The Society started publishing its journal ‘Indian Journal of Weed Science’ from 1969. Initially the Head Quarter of the Society was in Hisar which moved to Bangalore for nearly a decade (1980-1992). The HQ of the society was again shifted to Hisar and remained there till 2005. National Research Centre for Weed Science (now named as Directoratre of Weed Science Research) was established in 1989 at Jabalpur. Subsequently, with the strengthening of NRCWS (DWSR), the HQ of the society was finally shifted at Jabalpur in 2006. The society has been registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 with registration No. SOR/BLU/DR/518/08-09. The official emblem of the society was designed by Dr. Bibhas Ray in 1977, the then Chief Agronomist of Farm Chemical Ltd, New Delhi.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is a public funded agricultural university located in Ludhiana district of Punjab. It is a central agricultural university in India established under Harayana and Punjab Agricultural Universities Act 1970 enacted by Parliament in the Twenty first Year of the Republic of India. It was established in 1962 and is the nation's third-oldest agricultural university, after Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar and Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar. It was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on July 8, 1962. PAU pioneered the Green Revolution in India in the 1960s. It was bifurcated in 2005 with the formation of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU). The Farmers Fair, which have been organised by the PAU since 1967, see the footfall of at least one lakh farmers in two days on PAU campus in Ludhiana, Punjab (bi-annually in March and September). Farmers not only from Punjab, but also from neighbouring states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, etc., travel to the PAU campus to buy high-quality seeds, farm equipment and gain knowledge on new agricultural technologies in the two-day main fair event. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked the university 3rd in its agriculture and allied sectors ranking 2024.

Considering the problem of weeds in crop fields and need for weed research in India, a Coordinated Weed Control Scheme on Wheat, Rice and Sugarcane was initiated as early as 1952 in 11 States of the country by the ICAR to monitor the weed flora and also to find out the relative feasibility of economical weed control. Later, a number of Crop Research Institutes of ICAR and State Agricultural Universities were involved in weed control research. Different State Agricultural Universities also initiated the syllabus for weed management at under graduate and post-graduate level to teach and train students and researchers in weeds and their management. It was in 1978 the Weed Research Programme was strengthened through All India Coordinated Research Programme on Weed Control by the ICAR in collaboration with the United States Deptt. of Agriculture. Initially, six centres were started at different state agricultural universities (SAU) for a period of six years. Later seven more centres in II phase and nine more centres in III phase were added during 1982-83 and 1985-86 respectively for a period of five years each. The programme was continued with plan funds of ICAR. This project assisted farming community through the scientific technologies developed, which are effectively utilized for alleviating the yield losses due to weeds in field crops. The research programme tackled problems of weed management for which facilities were not available at different centres. In VII Plan, it was decided to establish a National Research Centre for basic as well as applied research in Weed Science in India. Accordingly, the National Research Centre for Weed Science (NRCWS) was approved during the middle of VII Five Year Plan with a total outlay of Rs. 64 lakhs. Approval of Govt. of India for establishing NRCWS was conveyed vide DARE letter no. 13-13/85/AFC, dtd. November 14,1986. The Centre actually came into existence on 22.04.1989 as National Research Centre for Weed Science (NRCWS) with the following mandate. NRCWS was further upgraded by the Council as Directorate of Weed Science Research (DWSR) vide its letter no. 14-3/2007-IA.II dated 23.01.2009.
The Directorate was upgraded to its present status in 2009 and was known as "Directorate of Weed Science Research (DWSR)". Vide council letter number NRM-24-9/2013-IA-II dated 27th November, 2014, the Diretorate was renamed as "Directorate of Weed Research (DWR)". All India Coordinated Research Project on Weed Control (AICRP-WC) was also Renamed as All India Coordinated Research Project on Weed Management (AICRP-WM).

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare , Government of India. Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. The ICAR has its headquarters at New Delhi.

The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. With 113 ICAR institutes and 74 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world. The ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology development that has enabled the country to increase the production of foodgrains by 6.21 times, horticultural crops by 11.53 times, fish by 21.61 times, milk by 13.01 times and eggs by 70.74 times since 1950-51 to 2021-22, thus making a visible impact on the national food and nutritional security. It has played a major role in promoting excellence in higher education in agriculture.

It is engaged in cutting edge areas of science and technology development and its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields.