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Chapter 14

Handicrafts Prepared from Water Hyacinth  

Millicent A. Olal

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a floating aquatic plant that varies in size from 8 cm to more than one meter in height.  It has showy lavender flowers and leaves that are rounded and leathery, attached to spongy and sometimes inflated stalks. The plant has dark feathery roots. Fresh waters of East Africa are among the last areas to be infested with water hyacinth (Amoding et al., 1999), a noxious aquatic weed that has become difficult to control (Woomer, 1997). One consequence of water hyacinth invasion is restricted access to aquatic resources, however, this weed may be used to make handicrafts that provide an important source of income for the affected communities (Lindsey and Hirt, 2000).

Sensing a business opportunity in 1998, Hyacinth Crafts, with assistance by the Kisumu Innovation Centre Kenya, developed several handicraft products from water hyacinth fibre (Figure 1).  Currently more than 35 families engage in the collection of water hyacinth and preparation of fibre. This fibre is delivered to 30 weavers and 20 papermakers, who produce an assortment of furniture, household accessories, office supplies, stationery and gift items. These products are then marketed in  Nairobi  and  other  major  towns  in  Kenya.  The production of fiber products by cottage industry artisans in areas most severely affected by water hyacinth empowers those who would otherwise suffer hardships from reduced access to fishing grounds. In this way, Hyacinth Crafts “turns gloom to bloom and doom to boom”, as was stated in a recent article describing the enterprise’s operations (Olal et al., 2001). Furniture and household accessories processed from hyacinth fibre include lampshades, napkin holders, breadbaskets, picnic baskets, place mats and floor mats. Office articles include diverse items such as waste bins, file holders, stack trays, pen holders and desk organizers. 

Many other products can be processed from water hyacinth (Thyagarajan, 1984).  Swine, ducks and geese readily consume fresh hyacinth stems and leaves.  A protein concentrate that is also rich in vitamin A may be prepared from the leaves.  The dried plants are a suitable substrate for mushroom cultivation.    Wastes removed from freshwater may be processed into silage for livestock or compost for addition to soil (Woomer et al., 1999).  Biogas may be generated through anaerobic digestion and fuel briquettes may be compacted from dried, shredded stems.  In addition, the dried roots serve as a major component of potting.

Processing Water Hyacinth into Fibre

Many different handicrafts are prepared from twisted or braided fibre (Figure 2).  To produce this fibre, the following procedure is followed.

1. Recover.  Fresh water hyacinth is recovered and the leaves and roots removed. The stem should be at least 50 cm long and mature, as young stems produce brittle or soft fibre.

2. Split.  The stem is then split lengthwise. The number of pieces prepared from a single stem is determined by the thickness of string required, but each slice should be at least 2.5 cm in cross-section. The pith, soft plant tissue that surrounds the hollow stem, is removed by rubbing after one day of sun drying.  Do not dry the strands for more than three days or they will become brittle.  

3. Dry and dye.  The cut, split stems are air-dried for 4 to 6 more hours in the direct sun until stems are dry but pliable. Further drying is necessary if only colored ropes are required.

4. Treat and sort.  Treat dried stems with a preservative to control fungal decay. Prepare 250 g of sodium meta-bisulphite in 10 liters of water. Soak 5 kg of stems by submerging for 1 hour. Rinse the stems in room-temperature water and air dry for 1 day. Sort stems by length and cross-section so that rope and braid is more uniform.

5. Twist or braid.  Fibre may be either twisted or braided into ropes of different thickness depending on the crafts to be made. Before braiding, sort the strips into various lengths and thickness. For rope, twist two pieces of stem fibre into one by rolling. For braid, pass three pieces over-and-through to produce a single braided length.

6. Join.  Toward the end of each stem segment, the fibre tapers. Combine additional tapered ends by joining additional twisted or braided segments until the desired length is achieved. As the fibre is processed, it is rolled into loops or spools. Hyacinth Crafts purchases the rope or braid from lakeshore producers and then distributes it to local artisans, who weave it around metal or wooden frames to make handicrafts.  The process of collecting water hyacinth stems and processing fiber, and subsequent production and marketing activities of Hyacinth Crafts are presented in Figure 3.

Processing Water Hyacinth into Paper

Water hyacinth fiber is suitable for the production of many different grades of paper from cardboard and construction paper to blotter and near-bond, although the higher grades require the addition of rag or waste pulp.  Pulping the water hyacinth fibre is facilitated by the addition of sodium hydroxide or lime (0.5%).  As the fibre is rather dark, bleaching is required to produce lighter colored paper, or those intended for dying.  A simplified procedure for the production of craft paper follows, and those interested in producing other grades are referred to Lindsey and Hirt (2000).

1. Recover and dry.  Recover hyacinth plants with stems at least 30 cm long, discard roots and leaves and air dry until nearly crispy.

2. Chop and shred.  Chop 1 kg of dried stems into small pieces and shred them with a mill or mortar and pestle.  For finer grade paper, also shred 1 kg of waste white paper.

3. Pulp.  Combine 2 kg of shredded fibre to 1.5 liter of hot water and boil for several hours, mashing occasionally.  One (1.0) g sodium hydroxide (soda) or calcium hydroxide (lime) may be added at this point, but may be unnecessary if waste paper is added to the pulp.  Wear gloves and protective eyeglasses when handling soda, lime or bleach, and the unwashed pulp.

4. Wash and bleach.  Drain the excess moisture by squeezing the pulp over a strainer and return to a pot, add sufficient water to cover the pulp, add 50 ml of bleach (calcium hypochlorite 65% solution), stir and stand for 30 minutes.  Return the bleached fibre to the strainer, drain and rinse with water until no smell of the bleach remains.  Dyes may be added at this time.

5. Spread, lift and dry.  Spread a thin layer of the pulp over fine cloth and a lifting net, drain excess water and press the sheet.  Lift the sheet from the press using the lifting net and dry for several hours.

6. Trim.  Cut the paper to specified dimensions and stack into reams.

A simpler alternative method of plant preparation and pulping follows:

1. Collect. Collect the whole water hyacinth plant and discard the roots

2. Rot. Pile the stems and leaves and allow them to rot for several days

3. Rinse. Recover and rinse the decomposing material, which now consists of mostly fibers

4. Pulp. Pulp the material in a large mortar and pestle

5. Continue. Wash, spread and trim as described in steps 4 to 6 (above).

This approach results in a darker, coarser-textured craft paper that is well suited to card-making and scrapbooks.

Conclusion

One way to be innovative in resource management is to turn apparent disadvantage into opportunity. The production of fibre products by cottage industries is one such example. Utilization of water hyacinth for the production of handicrafts is an important way of managing the weed problem in the fresh waters of East Africa because it creates employment and generates income for those who are most affected by it.  Everyone wins when we turn this terrible weed into organic fertilizer, livestock feed or furniture except when we unintentionally transport the weed to new waters (Woomer, 1997). For example, those transporting the weed prior to processing must be aware of the plant’s abundant, small seeds and take care that they are not introduced to new areas.  Even finished compost or silage may contain viable seeds!  Better safe than sorry as far as the spread of water hyacinth is concerned. 

References

Amoding, A., Muzira, R., Bekunda, M.A., and Woomer, P.L. 1999. Bioproductivity and deccomposition of water hyacinth in Uganda. African Crop Science Journal 7:433-440.

Lindsey, K. and Hirt, H.M. 2000. Use Water Hyacinth! Anamed, Winnenden, Germany. 114 pp

Olal, M.A., Muchilwa, M.N. and Woomer, P.L. 2001. Water hyacinth utilization and the use of waste material for handicraft production in Kenya. In: Nightingale, D.L.M. (Ed.) Micro and Small Enterprises and Natural Resource Use. Micro-Enterprises Support Programme, UNRP, Nairobi. pp. 119-127.

Thyagarajan, G. 1984. Proceedings of the International Conference on Water Hyacinth. UNEP, Nairobi.

Woomer, P.L., Muzira, R., Bwamiki, D., Mutetikka, D., Amoding, A. and Bekunda, M.A. 1999. Biological management of water hyacinth waste in Uganda. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 17:181-196.

Woomer, P.L. 1997. Managing water hyacinth invasion through integrated control and utilization: Perspectives for Lake Victoria. African Crop Science Journal 5:309-324.

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