After effects of the Water Hyacinth

Abstract machine- http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5487258.pdf

This machine is one of the first ways of tackling the water hyacinth problem. This
machine is placed above the water and carries in water hyacinth through conveyer belts
and then grinds them. Since water hyacinth in a fibrous plant after grinding it gives us
thin strips of fibber. Now these strips of fibber and travel along the machine and then
are interwoven to produce a rope.

Handicraft products- http://practicalaction.org/handicrafts-centre

“In 2006, Practical Action and Sarvodaya came in to the village to start work on a project to
implement a Livelihood Development Project to improve living conditions of the people in
Wanduruppa and Ambalantota South area. One of the successful programmes implemented by this
project was a technical training on Producing Handicraft Items using Water Hyacinth. It was an
advantage that the raw material (Water Hyacinth) could be found in the village. An 8 day training
programme was carried out for 30- participants with the help of an experienced trainer from the
National Crafts Council. Subsequently, at one of the handicraft exhibitions held in Galle district a
product developed using water hyacinth by one of the participants of this training programme won
the second place. The improved production quality of the handicrafts of the "Visithuru Kalashilpa
Sanvardana Samitiya" has been able to attract marketing opportunities from the Sri Lanka National
Design Centre and the Tourist Board”.
The second way of tackling the water hyacinth is by collecting them and teaching the villagers
how to turn them into tourist’s products such as bags.
Floating gardens- http://practicalaction.org/floating-gardens-7

This way of farming is very successful in flood prone areas because the farm floats and
will be safe with the rise or decrease of water.

Swamp devil- http://www.water-hyacinth.com/solution.html

This simple machine is called the swamp devil and it can be easily operated. It has two rotating
blades in the front which spin and drag in water hyacinth. Then the plants roots and cut and
placed into a container in the back of the machine.