Making the most out of water weed

For years, the rapid growth of invasive water hyacinth has blocked the flow of water in drains and minor canals in Krishna Western Delta and drained the State’s exchequer as crores of money was spent on deweeding the canals.

But local women in Tenali are turning this environmental crisis into an economic opportunity. With help from a local start up set up by a social entrepreneur, local women Self-Help Group members at Tenali have been harvesting water hyacinth from the lake and weaving attractive dining mats, hand bags, lunch box, photo frames with design and painting on water hyacinth woven mats. The product range starts from Rs.150 for a set of table mats. The bags and other materials are priced between Rs. 200 and Rs.900.

Water hyacinth is harvested from the local ponds and after chopping the roots and leaves, the bark is cleaned and dried in sun. Using its tough but flexible nature, the women have begun weaving baskets, table mats and hand bags. The products would soon find themselves into homes as local entrepreneurs have begun marketing them.

“Making bags out of water hyacinth is truly an amazing experience for us. This is an activity that needs little investment. We will be happier if the government provides us with rollers to soften the weed,” said Bikki Venkata Padmavathi, a women SHG member from Andhra Kesari Group from Angalakuduru.

Behind the success story is Shaik Abdul Mujeeb, the 25-year old graduate hails from Pedaravuru village in Tenali mandal. Blessed with an innovative streak, Mujeeb began dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur even during his graduation. He started an educational institution in Hyderabad in 2013 and while exploring for a science project for his student, he stumbled across a friend who recollected that his project “Making a card board with water hyacinth,” had won him an award at a science exhibition in his school days,

“I was shocked to realise that this weed was right in front of my house and I passed every day noticing it,” Mujeeb told

The Hindu .

He then left to Assam where local artisans have set up small industries making a variety of bags using water hyacinth. He left to Assam in 2014, met over 100 artisans and learnt the craft.

He came back to his native village Pedaravuru and began a start up called Allika. “I realised that the water hyacinth is considered a bad weed and so I convinced the local women and trained them. I later approached the District Rural Development Agency, Guntur for a project to train 30 women in Angalakuduru,’’ said Mujeeb. Seven local artisans now make about 200 products a month.

Allika was a startup which needed support and soon Mujeeb got in touch with a startup support from UnLtd, a Hyderabad based firm, which accepted his application. Mujeeb is now exploring new business opportunity and has sought lease to open a stall at Shilparamam in Hyderabad. He had also applied for space in few malls in the cities. “We have applied for registration of the firm but I am keen to make it as a non-profit venture,” said Mujeeb.

Making bags out of water hyacinth is truly an amazing experience for us. This is an activity that needs little investment. We will be happier if the government provides us with rollers to soften the weed

Bikki Venkata Padmavathi

SHG member

I realised that the water hyacinth is considered a bad weed and so I convinced the local women and trained them. I later approached the District Rural Development Agency, Guntur for a project to train 30 women in Angalakuduru

Shaik Abdul Mujeeb

Entrepreneur