- Title: NIGERIA: Women in the delta turn invasive weed into handicrafts for sale.
- Date: 18th February 2014
- Summary: BAYELSA, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WATER HYACINTH ON THE RIVER VARIOUS OF GODSPOWER DAVID, FISHERMAN, ROWING HIS BOAT DAVID WALKING TO SHORE (SOUNDBITE) (English) (AUDIO AS INCOMING) GODSPOWER DAVID, FISHERMAN, SAYING: "The thing is this thing (water hyacinth) is disturbing the fishing, at times, it will come with heavy load, it will cut our net, at times, when you put hook, it will come with heavy load by floating and cut our hooks, that's how this thing is disturbing the fishing line." VARIOUS OF WOMEN UPROOTING WATER HYACINTH WATER HYACINTH FLOATING ON WATER ACHENYO IDACHABA, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, MITI METH, TALKING TO WOMEN WATER HYACINTH STALKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACHENYO IDACHABA, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, MITI METH, SAYING: "I looked around and water hyacinth as you can see all around us here on the waterways is actually a problem, it's a problem to the riverine communities, it curtails access to the waterways, reduces the fish yields as well as causes water loss, pollution, you know people not being able to bath in clean water what have you so I looked at the situation, I said you know what, there's got to be a solution to this problem and a win win solution, a solution that will actually benefit the riverine communities that are affected the most by the infestation of this weed." SIGN READING: OGBIA STAND CENTRE EXTERIOR OF THE CENTRE VARIOUS OF WOMEN LAYING OUT WATER HYACINTH STALKS TO DRY VARIOUS OF IDACHABA TEACHING WOMEN TO MAKE HANDICRAFTS FROM HYACINTH WOMAN WEAVING HYACINTH VARIOUS OF WOVEN WATER HYACINTH ROPE (SOUNDBITE) (English) WELEGUO OTOKITO, BUSINESSWOMAN, SAYING: "I will use this in future to do so many things, when I manufacture all these things, when I sell them out, I'll have enough money of which I believe in future I'll do something out of this craft." VARIOUS OF WOMEN MAKING PEN HOLDERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SILVER YIBADEINYEFA, TAILOR, SAYING: "When I go home, I'll explain this to my customers that come o, don't throw away or do not burn the pieces that we have been burning before. From now, I can use the pieces to do bangle or I can use the pieces attached to Abiola (water hyacinth) to do some design for their materials again to add up with my customers." VARIOUS OF WOMEN MAKING PENS VARIOUS OF HANDICRAFTS MADE FROM WATER HYACINTH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACHENYO IDACHABA, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, MITI METH, SAYING: "We want to replicate this in as many riverine communities that we have across Nigeria. Five, within this immediate area is just a handful and I'm sure if you ask the locals there are several more so we definitely want to have greater impact and talking about the challenges, the training does cost money so the women would need to be funded or the training would need to be subsidized at a great deal in order for many other women to participate in this. One of the other things that we're also looking at is that the women that have participated in this training now become knowledgeable resources within their own communities and then can train other people within their own immediate communities as well." VARIOUS OF WOMEN MAKING HANDICRAFTS
- Embargoed: 5th March 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4TJLLYDOGV60BHG07KVFMRB2B
- Story Text: A green carpet-like layer covers waterways in Nigeria's oil rich Delta region, revealing an invasive weed that is a growing problem for residents.
Fishing and water transportation become an unexpected challenge here thanks to the fast growing weed known as hyacinth. It is also said to reduce light as well as oxygen levels in water, thus affecting aquatic life.
The oil producing Niger delta region produces about 2 million barrels of oil per day, and also has significant natural gas reserves, making Nigeria Africa's top oil producer.
But millions of Delta residents still live in poverty in an environment that is damaged by oil leaks from pipelines passing through the delta's creeks.
With little gained from the oil wealth in the region, communities practice mostly fishing and agriculture.
Communities have been trying to battle water hyacinth since it first appeared here in the 1980s.
Godspower David, a fisherman, says hyacinth has had a negative impact on his business.
"The thing is this thing (water hyacinth) is disturbing the fishing, at times, it will come with heavy load, it will cut our net, at times, when you put hook, it will come with heavy load by floating and cut our hooks, that's how this thing is disturbing the fishing line," he said.
To help manage the problem, a group of women in the community have found innovative ways to put the plant to good use.
They are learning how to use the aquatic weeds to make various craft works for sale as part of a programme is run by a local non-governmental organisation.
Achenyo Idachaba the founder of Miti-Meth, a company that makes eco-friendly handicrafts has been contracted to train the group.
"I looked around and water hyacinth as you can see all around us here on the waterways is actually a problem, it's a problem to the riverine communities, it curtails access to the waterways, reduces the fish yields as well as causes water loss, pollution, you know people not being able to bath in clean water what have you so I looked at the situation, I said you know what, there's got to be a solution to this problem and a win win solution, a solution that will actually benefit the riverine communities that are affected the most by the infestation of this weed," she said.
The group of 40 women were sponsored to attend training at a cost of 8 US dollars per person.
After uprooting the hyacinth, they dry it and later weave it into ropes.
The ropes are used to create items like flower vases, pens, pen holders, earrings and hand fans.
"I will use this in future to do so many things, when I manufacture all these things, when I sell them out, I'll have enough money of which I believe in future I'll do something out of this craft," said Weleguo Otokito, one of the women enrolled on the programme.
"When I go home, I'll explain this to my customers that come o, don't throw away or do not burn the pieces that we have been burning before. From now, I can use the pieces to do bangle or I can use the pieces attached to Abiola (water hyacinth) to do some design for their materials again to add up with my customers," added Silver Yibadeinyefa, a tailor who plans to incorporate hyacinth with fabric to create accessories.
Plans are also being made to integrate more women into the programme and start a supply chain that will provide a distribution channel for finished products.
"We want to replicate this in as many riverine communities that we have across Nigeria. Five, within this immediate area is just a handful and I'm sure if you ask the locals there are several more so we definitely want to have greater impact and talking about the challenges, the training does cost money so the women would need to be funded or the training would need to be subsidized at a great deal in order for many other women to participate in this. One of the other things that we're also looking at is that the women that have participated in this training now become knowledgeable resources within their own communities and then can train other people within their own immediate communities as well," said Idachaba.
Water hyacinth remains a tenacious weed in other African countries as well, like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania where it is also being used by weavers to make similar products for sale both locally and abroad. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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