150 Andhra Women Are Turning a Harmful Water Weed Into Handbags, Home Décor & Income

Women in Andhra Pradesh are turning a troublesome aquatic weed into saleable handicrafts. Water hyacinth once clogged canals and ponds, but artisans now use its dried stalks for handbags, baskets, lampshades, mats, trays and storage containers. This matters because the work links cleaner waterways with women’s incomes.

The process begins with collection and sun-drying. The plant dries for nearly 15 days. Its stalks are then woven by hand, gummed and polished. In Chinnapuram, trained women produce about 50 to 60 varieties. Kalpana, one artisan, reported earning around Rs 500 to Rs 700 daily. The women also formed Hyaloom to manage orders, production and income sharing.

The programme began with 50 women in October 2024 and expanded across Krishna district. By September 2026, around 150 women had trained. Artisans earned an average of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 monthly, though demand affects income. Future growth depends on regular orders and wider markets.

Water hyacinth is a fast-growing plant that spreads across canals, ponds and other water bodies. The article describes it as invasive because it rapidly occupies waterways and repeatedly returns after removal. It was long treated as a nuisance rather than a useful material.

Its thick mats create practical problems. They block movement across the water and make canals difficult to clear. Irrigation workers removed the plant, but it grew back, creating repeated work. The weed therefore affected both waterway maintenance and the people responsible for keeping canals usable.

The Andhra Pradesh initiative changes how the removed plant is viewed. Instead of discarding it, women collect and process it into handicrafts. The plant still needs to be removed from waterways, but its dried stalks gain a second use. This approach creates income while supporting canal and pond maintenance. The article does not explain the biological reasons for its rapid spread.

Around 150 women across Krishna district had received training by September 2026. The programme initially removed approximately 100 to 120 tonnes of water hyacinth each month. As orders grew, its capacity increased to around 150 tonnes monthly in the covered areas.

Income varies by artisan and demand. Kalpana reported earning around Rs 500 to Rs 700 a day. A February 2026 report said members of Hyaloom earned an average of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. During training, participants received an allowance of Rs 300 a day. The group also generated approximately Rs 20 lakh in combined sales and earnings, with an estimated 20% margin after expenses.

These figures show both scale and uncertainty. Training has expanded beyond Chinnapuram to several villages. However, earnings depend on orders and customer demand. The administration’s next challenge is creating regular markets, including possible sales through Lepakshi and major temples.

Collected water hyacinth must be prepared before it can become a product. The plant is first dried in the sun for nearly 15 days. This turns the collected material into usable dried stalks. The preparation requires patience and careful handling by trained artisans.

The dried stalks are woven by hand into different shapes. Women use this technique to make handbags, baskets, mats, trays, storage containers, lampshades and decorative items. After weaving, they apply gum and polish the pieces. These steps help give the finished products strength and a smoother appearance, making them suitable for sale and home use.

Training taught women the complete chain, from collection through finishing. Experienced artisans from Assam, including Rita Das and her team, helped train the first group in Chinnapuram. Today, the artisans make around 50 to 60 varieties. Their society, Hyaloom, helps coordinate production, orders and income sharing.

When water hyacinth is removed from canals and ponds, thick mats no longer obstruct movement in the covered areas. The plant can then be processed rather than thrown away. This gives waterway maintenance a practical economic link: clearing the weed supplies material for handicrafts.

Women collect and dry the plant before weaving its stalks into products. The programme began with 50 women and later reached around 150 across Krishna district. Artisans make handbags, baskets, mats, trays, storage containers and decorative pieces. They manage work and income through Hyaloom. Organic manure produced through the process is also finding buyers among local farmers.

The livelihood effect depends on sales. Artisans reported daily earnings of Rs 500 to Rs 700, while group members averaged Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 monthly. The programme has generated approximately Rs 20 lakh in combined sales and earnings. Regular orders remain essential for keeping both incomes and production steady.

The Krishna district administration launched the training programme in Chinnapuram in October 2024. Self-help group women learned from experienced artisans from Assam, including national award-winning craftsperson Rita Das and her team. The women later formed Hyaloom, a society that manages orders, production and income sharing.

Marketing support comes through Lepakshi, which helps the products reach buyers. The district administration is also exploring opportunities with major temples at Srikalahasti, Srisailam and Kanaka Durga. These groups connect the work’s main stages: training, making products, finding customers and managing earnings.

Regular orders matter because income varies with demand. The group’s reported monthly earnings ranged from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 on average, but sales cannot be assumed without buyers. Y Hari Hara Nath said the next priority was sustainable market opportunities. The administration hopes to expand the programme to the district’s remaining 20 mandals.

Water hyacinth is difficult to manage because it grows quickly, spreads across canals and ponds, and returns after removal. The article identifies these effects but does not explain the plant’s biological causes. In general, invasive species often spread rapidly when they face few natural controls, but that broader explanation is not specific to this article.

The Andhra Pradesh programme makes removal more useful. Women collect the weed, dry it for nearly 15 days, and weave the stalks into products. Gum and polish improve the finish. This creates a resource-management cycle: clearing waterways supplies material, processing creates products, and sales support women’s incomes. Organic manure from the process also reaches farmers.

The model is promising but depends on continued demand. Around 150 women had trained by September 2026, and the programme could handle about 150 tonnes monthly. Expanding markets and regular orders could strengthen the cycle. The administration plans to explore the remaining 20 mandals.