How the invasive water hyacinth is helping build livelihoods – with an ecological bonus

Moromi Hazowary of Kamrup district in Assam had clear aspirations – a stable life and a desire to give her son a better education. It is not a stroke of luck, but an invasive weed – water hyacinth – that is turning her hopes into reality.

The 32-year-old’s family was dependent on farming and odd jobs for their livelihood. As expenses rose and survival became difficult, Hazowary’s husband started working as a lifeguard, but it was not enough to make ends meet.

That’s when Hazowary took up the job in an enterprise that repurposes water hyacinth into paper. Two years on, she doesn’t worry about just scraping by but looks forward to a brighter future for her family. “I had never thought that an undesirable weed would help me earn a salary and put me on the path of financial growth. Once considered a nuisance, water hyacinth is now a tool of empowerment,” said Hazowary, adding that this has stopped her from migrating to other states for work.

With new ways of utilising the weed, things are changing for the good for many people. If water hyacinth offered financial stability to Hazowary, it was a springboard of innovation for 24-year-old entrepreneur Aniket Dhar whose startup makes...

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