By Elijah Banda
As the rainy season sweeps across the region and farmers begin the familiar routine of land preparation, one activity quickly takes center stage: weeding. For generations, weeds have been treated as the enemy—unwanted plants that rob crops of food, sunlight, and space. Yet agriculture, like any field of human knowledge, evolves through learning. And one of the most overlooked lessons today is this: not all weeds are harmful, and not all should be destroyed.
This insight forms part of an important conversation in adult education, particularly for farmers who rely on indigenous knowledge as much as modern training. Understanding the true nature of weeds is not merely an agricultural skill; it is a form of education—an expansion of what we think we know.
A plant becomes a weed only when it grows in the wrong place. When the same plant grows in its natural environment or serves a purpose, it is no longer considered unwanted. For many adult learners, especially in rural communities, this shift in definition is powerful. It challenges long-held assumptions and encourages farmers to make informed decisions based on knowledge rather than tradition alone. This is where adult education plays a transformative role. By equipping communities with updated agricultural understanding, we empower farmers to ask new questions: Is this plant harmful? helpful? Or simply misunderstood? Some weeds are, in fact, silent teachers that show us the natural processes happening within our soils.
Take vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides)—a plant many people have uprooted without knowing its value. Vetiver is a natural engineer. Its deep roots prevent soil erosion, improve soil structure, and help conserve water. Under guided learning, farmers can recognize that instead of burning vetiver, they can replant it along contour ridges. Adult education turns this discovery into practical knowledge: “This plant is not your enemy; it is your partner.” Other helpful weeds include: Amaranth (pigweed): Edible and nutritious when cooked as a vegetable. Wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia): Excellent for compost and organic fertilizer.
Blackjack (Bidens Pilosa): Improves soil organic matter when used as green manure. Pigeon pea volunteers: Nitrogen-fixing plants that enrich soil fertility. When farmers learn these benefits, weed management becomes more than labor—it becomes a strategic decision based on education. Of course, adult education also teaches farmers to identify truly destructive weeds. These are plants that choke crops, spread aggressively, or drain nutrients directly from the roots.
Examples include: Striga (witchweed): A major threat to maize and sorghum. Nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus): Extremely difficult to remove due to underground tubers. Couch grass and guinea grass: Fast-spreading grasses that reduce yields. Wandering Jew (Tradescantia): Smothers ground vegetation quickly.
Through learning, farmers can distinguish between helpful plants and harmful invaders, allowing them to respond with skill rather than guesswork. Weed management is not just physical work—it is mental work. It requires observation, decision-making, and knowledge of plant behavior. Adult education, especially community-based programs, strengthens these abilities by: Teaching plant identification skills, encouraging critical thinking in the field, promoting sustainable farming principles, sharing indigenous knowledge across generations, and building confidence in adopting new methods.
When farmers understand the “why” behind their actions, they farm more effectively—even with fewer resources. Instead of clearing everything green from the field, education encourages selective weeding. Farmers learn to: Remove only harmful weeds, relocate beneficial ones to field edges or compost pits, use some weeds as manure or mulch, and integrate natural vegetation into soil conservation efforts This approach is not only environmentally friendly; it also reduces labor, improves soil health, and increases yields.
As climate change continues to threaten crop productivity, farmers need more than tools—they need knowledge. Adult education gives communities the power to adapt, innovate, and make informed agricultural decisions. A weed may look like an enemy, but through education we discover that some of these plants are allies in disguise. The true challenge of modern farming is not simply removing weeds, but learning which ones to remove, which ones to keep, and which ones to use. In the end, education is the most powerful tool a farmer can hold.