New Sense in Nuisance - JaniPad

Prerequisites for Phase II
Our material explorations provided us with an
understanding for the different characteristics and
how the plant could be put into different applications.
In assessing the viability of a commercial production
of objects made out of water hyacinth, the advantages
and disadvantages that may arise in conjunction with
this were summarised.
Arguments for Utilising the Water
Hyacinth as a Resource
The water hyacinth has been a source of many
problems in Lake Victoria and a lot of money has
been invested in trying to eliminate the plant from
the water surface. If, on the other hand, the water
hyacinth would be utilised as a resource, money
could instead be generated. By taking advantage
of the attributes of the plant, economical as well as
ecological benefits would be able to be achieved. This
conclusion is based on the following aspects that are
attributed to the plant:
1. Abundancy
The water hyacinth is available in abundance. In
2008, the total surface area of water hyacinths in
Nyanca Gulf was estimated to 1400 hectare (Jembe
et al, 2008).
2. High reproduction rate
The water hyacinths can double its biomass in 6
days (Linsey and Hirt, 1999 in Jembe et al, 2008).
Under ideal conditions, one plant can produce 2.7
daughter plants per week and could theoretically in
a year produce 28 000 tonnes of fresh weigh (Sainty,
1985).
3. Free source of material
The water hyacinth is free for anyone to make use of.
4. Does not require land space
A resource that does not take up land space is
advantageous in regards to an increasing demand for
land due to population growth.
5. Ideal conditions
Lake Victoria provides ideal conditions for hyacinth
growth (LVBC unpublished report, 2008 in Jembe et
al, 2008).
6. Cleans the water
The water hyacinth has the ability to absorb nutrients
and pollutants from the water. This quality is however
only taken advantage of if the entire plant is removed
from the lake.
Potential Problems in Utilising the
Water Hyacinth as a Resource
A product or an industry based on using the water
hyacinth as a resource, must take the following factors
into consideration:
1. The high water content of the water hyacinth
The plants require large areas for drying. In addition,
drying them in the sun during the rainy season may
be difficult. Another issue is the transportation of
fresh plants, which will result in high transportation
costs.
2. Varying access
The seasonal movement of the hyacinth may lead to
varying access during the year. Lack of work during
several months may cause people to act in less beneficial
ways e.g. start using similar plants. A similar situation
may arise if the water hyacinth would become fully
extinct in the lake.
3. Manual harvesting
The workers are exposed to different problems
during the harvest. See ‘Identified Problems with
Harvesting’.
4. Poor water resistance
Products from the dried petioles are not water
resistant, which limits its area of usage to for example
indoor use.
Reality Studio 09 - New Sense in Nuisance
page 28 of 97