Considered a weed in most parts of the world, water hyacinth is a boon to residents of Bentiu town, South Sudan, who have managed to profit from its proliferation by transforming it, with very little effort, in ecological and accessible fuel.
In South Sudan, the city of Bentiu has been devastated by floods linked to the climate crisis for 4 years. For the women of this town in northern East Africa, water hyacinths, a weed that is abundant and rich in biomass, is a new source of sustainable and accessible fuel.
“The many floods have destroyed the forest which was the source of the charcoal we used to use, water hyacinth charcoal is now a much better option,” says flood victim Roda Nyawuy in Bentiu.
“Collecting and preparing water hyacinth charcoal is easier than collecting charcoal. Charcoal wood is very far from here. You need a boat, which is very expensive. The water hyacinth is very close to the dike and its transformation into fuel is simple, no need for a boat. The women use rakes to collect them, put them in bags and then leave them to dry for a few days,” explains Simon Riak, project manager.
As the climate crisis reshapes the city’s landscape, the World Food Program (WFP) helps turn the crops of these women into fuel.
Once collected, the bags of water hyacinth are placed in a sealed metal drum and then burned on the fire for regarding twenty minutes before being mixed with sand and water to form blocks of combustible paste.
“The World Food Program has a project in place where we use this weed to make a type of cooking fuel to reduce charcoal consumption. This type of project is absolutely essential for the future, as it will help families to live in better conditions despite the floods,” informs, Gemma Snowdon, Director of Communications for WFP in South Sudan.
The price of charcoal having doubled in one year in the city, water hyacinth is a godsend for this population already experiencing difficulties in obtaining basic necessities.
Around 300 people, mostly women, are involved in producing the water hyacinth charcoal trays and encouraging their adoption within the community.
Tea vendors and some restaurateurs have been invited to test the effectiveness of these combustible pastes.
According to experts, the floods around Bentiu might take years or even decades to subside.
Source: Africanews
