Adjuvants

Herbicide

Income

Input-use efficiency

Losses

Weeds 

Increasing incomes by reducing crop losses due to various pests and improving productivity and input-use efficiency, are some of the major recommendations of the report on Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022. Weeds are unwanted intruders into agro-ecosystems that compete for limited resources and reduce crop yields and farmers’ income. It was estimated that on an average the weed control costs around INR 6000/ha (USD 92.42/ha) in rainy season crops and around INR 4000/ha (USD 61.61/ha) for winter crops, which accounts for around 33% and 22% of total cost of cultivation, respectively. Thus, efficient weed management can help in increasing the farmers’ income by reducing the losses caused by weeds, decreasing the cost of production, and increasing the productivity through efficient utilization of resources. The present paper deals with the importance of weeds in crop production and farmers’ income, and role of smart weed management practices in reducing cost of production, and improving input-use efficiency and crop productivity.