Kochi: The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) joined hands with Jain University to launch its pilot project to train the fishermen community to manufacture hyacinth-based products as a solution to the water hyacinth issue in the backwaters. The project was officially inaugurated by Venu Rajamony, Chairman of the Future Kerala Mission, in the presence of MPEDA Chairman D.V. Swamy IAS, Ernakulam Sub-Collector Sai Krishna IAS, and Jain University New Initiatives Director Dr. Tom Joseph at a ceremony held at the MPEDA headquarters.
“The project envisions a decentralized, community-based model to find a permanent solution to the water hyacinth menace,” said Venu Rajamony. He also noted that the project is designed to ensure the eradication of water hyacinth while simultaneously creating a steady source of income for fishers and farmers. He said that the District Administration and the Kochi Corporation have extended full support to this Future Kerala Mission initiative and urged other state and central agencies, including the private sector, to join hands in the effort.
Presiding over the function, D.V. Swamy IAS, Chairman of MPEDA, remarked that “water hyacinth should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a menace.” He highlighted that this women-led project serves as an excellent model for the world and announced that, upon the successful completion of the pilot phase, the participating fishers may be considered for an opportunity to attend the Seafood Global Expo in Barcelona to explore international markets for their products.
The Chief Guest of the event, Sai Krishna IAS, Sub-Collector of Fort Kochi, emphasized that “the success of any project depends on the collective effort of its stakeholders,” and noted that governments are now taking steps to address the long-standing water hyacinth issue. Dr. Tom Joseph, Director of New Initiatives at Jain University, stated that through the Future Kerala Mission, “the university aims to go beyond academic activities to solve societal challenges in collaboration with various agencies.”
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between MPEDA-RGCA and Jain University Kochi to ensure academic cooperation in sectors including marine science.
This sustainable development initiative directly benefits Scheduled Caste fisher families in Ernakulam’s Valanthakad region. A total of 120 participants attending the training over six sessions will learn to transform water hyacinth into paper, pulp-based handicrafts and woven products. Among them, the top performers will receive advanced master trainer mentoring and industry exposure. The project aims to foster rural entrepreneurship through a circular economy that drives ecological restoration and raises awareness about the weed’s environmental impact.
Prof. Dr. G. Nagendra Prabhu, Scientific Advisor of the Future Kerala Mission, reviewed the project, and the event concluded with the presence of officials from MPEDA, NETFISH and Jain University, marking a collective step toward community-led environmental and economic progress.
