For Kalpana, a woman artisan in Andhra Pradesh's Chinnapuram village, something that once clogged local waterways has become a source of income.

She works with water hyacinth, an invasive plant that spreads rapidly across canals and ponds. Once removed, it was usually thrown away. Today, women like Kalpana are turning it into handbags, baskets, lampshades and other products people can use at home.

"This work needs skill and dedication. Every product we make carries our effort and creativity," Kalpana told The New Indian Express.

She reported earning around Rs 500 to Rs 700 a day from the craft.

And she is part of a growing effort that has trained around 150 women across Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district to earn from a plant long considered a nuisance.

How did a troublesome weed become a livelihood?

For years, water hyacinth has troubled Krishna district's canals and water bodies.

The fast-growing plant forms thick mats across the water, blocking movement and making it difficult to keep canals clear. Irrigation workers would remove it, only for the weed to grow back.

But what if the material being discarded could be put to use?

In October 2024, the Krishna district administration launched a training programme........

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