Fighting the water hyacinth

A two-year FAO programme is underway to help communities in Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso get rid of aquatic weeds, mainly the water hyacinth, which clogs waterways, reduces the generating capacity of hydro-electric stations, causes flooding and deprives fishermen of their livelihood. “Once the water hyacinth has become established, it is almost impossible to eradicate it completely,” said Ricardo Labrado, a weed officer with the FAO’s Plant Protection Service. “Our objective is to use biological methods to contain the spread of water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds and minimize the damage they cause.” Breeding centres for insects that like to eat the weeds, such as the water hyacinth weevil and the salvinia weevil, will be set up in the three countries, whose technicians will be trained in biological control methods. “Success at the regional level can only be achieved if we have participation at the local level,” Labrada said. Local communities will be encouraged to help monitor the presence of weeds and to get local fishermen to help release insects into affected areas.