Patna: Water hyacinth, long dismissed as a nuisance choking ponds and lakes across Bihar, is being transformed into an unlikely source of income and sustainable fashion.
In a pilot project launched by the Union Ministry of Textiles, more than 50 women from Satpura village in Vaishali district have been trained to weave the fast-spreading aquatic plant into everyday items such as purses, bags, cushion covers, baskets, carpets and dining mats. The initiative, led by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) office in Patna, aims both to curb plastic use and to create new employment opportunities.
Officials say the training, delivered through the Handicraft Service Centre, has been enthusiastically received. “This is a step towards reducing plastic while also giving women in rural Bihar a means of self-employment,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The project builds on similar ventures in Guwahati, where water hyacinth products have already entered the market. In flood-prone northern Bihar, where the plant grows abundantly and often clogs fields and ponds, its commercial use could offer both livelihoods and ecological relief.
When dried and stored, water hyacinth can fetch up to Rs 100 a kilo. Advocates believe the trade will not only provide a steady income for women but also support fish farming by clearing waterways of the invasive weed.
The ministry says that skilled artisans could eventually qualify for recognition and awards at state and national levels, while locally made products are being positioned for both domestic and export markets.
