Turning a problem into profit: using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for making handicrafts at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

  • Tsiry Fanilonirina Rakotoarisoa
  • Torsten Richter
  • Tahina Rakotondramanana
  • Jasmin Mantilla-Contreras

Externe Organisationen

  • Stiftung Universität Hildesheim
  • Ecole Normale Supérieure d'Antananarivo
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)365-379
Seitenumfang15
FachzeitschriftEconomic Botany
Jahrgang70
Ausgabenummer4
Frühes Online-Datum15 Dez. 2016
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Dez. 2016
Extern publiziertJa

Abstract

In diverse ecosystems, invasive plant species represent a serious threat for nature conservation by leading to loss of native species as well as environmental degradation. The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) belongs to the top 10 worldwide most troublesome aquatic weeds. This study assesses the use of this invasive plant as a new source of raw material for handicrafts to substitute for the traditionally used papyrus (Cyperus madagascariensis) in the poor and remote region of Lake Alaotra in Madagascar. It has been recently observed that the current exploitation of papyrus in this region adds pressure on the receding Alaotra wetland and notably decreases habitat and food resources for the locally endemic and critically endangered lemur species Hapalemur alaotrensis. Within our research, water hyacinth handicrafts were produced by local artisans and compared with papyrus handicrafts regarding production path (collection, transportation, and processing of raw material) with a focus on financial costs, workload, and selling price. In addition, structured interviews were conducted with town-based handicraft retailers and potential customers to specify market expectations (quality, design, and marketing strategies). Our study revealed that despite the requirement for a longer time regarding raw material selection and drying (7 days vs 3 days) as well as additional financial costs (23% in addition) for ornaments, water hyacinth handicrafts displayed many advantages in comparison to papyrus handicrafts: (a) assembling water hyacinth handicrafts was easier and faster (33% less time investment), (b) led to robust products that were rated as being of acceptable to very good quality by 91% of the interviewees (c) and sold at three times (mean 2.25 US$) the sale prices of the traditional papyrus handicrafts (mean 0.75 US$). The use of water hyacinth has therefore the potential to increase local household incomes, open up new markets, and attenuate the pressure on the Alaotra wetland biodiversity by reducing the use of papyrus. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis combined with research findings on rural handicrafts was drafted to identify four main steps for promoting the market establishment of water hyacinth handicrafts at Lake Alaotra: creation of artisans’ clusters and networks, improvement of managerial and marketing competence, access to finance and exploration of markets possibilities. This research can provide insights for other small rural handicraft enterprises in developing countries facing problem with water hyacinth throughout the world.

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Turning a problem into profit: using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for making handicrafts at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar. / Rakotoarisoa, Tsiry Fanilonirina; Richter, Torsten ; Rakotondramanana, Tahina et al.
in: Economic Botany, Jahrgang 70, Nr. 4, 12.2016, S. 365-379.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Rakotoarisoa TF, Richter T, Rakotondramanana T, Mantilla-Contreras J. Turning a problem into profit: using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for making handicrafts at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar. Economic Botany. 2016 Dez;70(4):365-379. Epub 2016 Dez 15. doi: 10.1007/s12231-016-9362-y
Rakotoarisoa, Tsiry Fanilonirina ; Richter, Torsten ; Rakotondramanana, Tahina et al. / Turning a problem into profit : using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for making handicrafts at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar. in: Economic Botany. 2016 ; Jahrgang 70, Nr. 4. S. 365-379.
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abstract = "In diverse ecosystems, invasive plant species represent a serious threat for nature conservation by leading to loss of native species as well as environmental degradation. The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) belongs to the top 10 worldwide most troublesome aquatic weeds. This study assesses the use of this invasive plant as a new source of raw material for handicrafts to substitute for the traditionally used papyrus (Cyperus madagascariensis) in the poor and remote region of Lake Alaotra in Madagascar. It has been recently observed that the current exploitation of papyrus in this region adds pressure on the receding Alaotra wetland and notably decreases habitat and food resources for the locally endemic and critically endangered lemur species Hapalemur alaotrensis. Within our research, water hyacinth handicrafts were produced by local artisans and compared with papyrus handicrafts regarding production path (collection, transportation, and processing of raw material) with a focus on financial costs, workload, and selling price. In addition, structured interviews were conducted with town-based handicraft retailers and potential customers to specify market expectations (quality, design, and marketing strategies). Our study revealed that despite the requirement for a longer time regarding raw material selection and drying (7 days vs 3 days) as well as additional financial costs (23% in addition) for ornaments, water hyacinth handicrafts displayed many advantages in comparison to papyrus handicrafts: (a) assembling water hyacinth handicrafts was easier and faster (33% less time investment), (b) led to robust products that were rated as being of acceptable to very good quality by 91% of the interviewees (c) and sold at three times (mean 2.25 US$) the sale prices of the traditional papyrus handicrafts (mean 0.75 US$). The use of water hyacinth has therefore the potential to increase local household incomes, open up new markets, and attenuate the pressure on the Alaotra wetland biodiversity by reducing the use of papyrus. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis combined with research findings on rural handicrafts was drafted to identify four main steps for promoting the market establishment of water hyacinth handicrafts at Lake Alaotra: creation of artisans{\textquoteright} clusters and networks, improvement of managerial and marketing competence, access to finance and exploration of markets possibilities. This research can provide insights for other small rural handicraft enterprises in developing countries facing problem with water hyacinth throughout the world.",
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T2 - using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for making handicrafts at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar

AU - Rakotoarisoa, Tsiry Fanilonirina

AU - Richter, Torsten

AU - Rakotondramanana, Tahina

AU - Mantilla-Contreras, Jasmin

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2016, The New York Botanical Garden.

PY - 2016/12

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N2 - In diverse ecosystems, invasive plant species represent a serious threat for nature conservation by leading to loss of native species as well as environmental degradation. The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) belongs to the top 10 worldwide most troublesome aquatic weeds. This study assesses the use of this invasive plant as a new source of raw material for handicrafts to substitute for the traditionally used papyrus (Cyperus madagascariensis) in the poor and remote region of Lake Alaotra in Madagascar. It has been recently observed that the current exploitation of papyrus in this region adds pressure on the receding Alaotra wetland and notably decreases habitat and food resources for the locally endemic and critically endangered lemur species Hapalemur alaotrensis. Within our research, water hyacinth handicrafts were produced by local artisans and compared with papyrus handicrafts regarding production path (collection, transportation, and processing of raw material) with a focus on financial costs, workload, and selling price. In addition, structured interviews were conducted with town-based handicraft retailers and potential customers to specify market expectations (quality, design, and marketing strategies). Our study revealed that despite the requirement for a longer time regarding raw material selection and drying (7 days vs 3 days) as well as additional financial costs (23% in addition) for ornaments, water hyacinth handicrafts displayed many advantages in comparison to papyrus handicrafts: (a) assembling water hyacinth handicrafts was easier and faster (33% less time investment), (b) led to robust products that were rated as being of acceptable to very good quality by 91% of the interviewees (c) and sold at three times (mean 2.25 US$) the sale prices of the traditional papyrus handicrafts (mean 0.75 US$). The use of water hyacinth has therefore the potential to increase local household incomes, open up new markets, and attenuate the pressure on the Alaotra wetland biodiversity by reducing the use of papyrus. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis combined with research findings on rural handicrafts was drafted to identify four main steps for promoting the market establishment of water hyacinth handicrafts at Lake Alaotra: creation of artisans’ clusters and networks, improvement of managerial and marketing competence, access to finance and exploration of markets possibilities. This research can provide insights for other small rural handicraft enterprises in developing countries facing problem with water hyacinth throughout the world.

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