Several utilization programs began in 1992 and have recently transformed the image of the weed. Because it rots in 15 days, it is an ideal component in fertilizer. Weed harvested from the Bangkok area is used in a new fertilizer factory to provide low cost organic fertilizer for farms. But the real success, both economically and in terms of eliminating the weed, lies in the field of wickerwork. Wicker items made from the stems have proved extremely popular in Germany and Japan, where environmentally friendly products are fashionable.
Rural farmers can gain valuable extra income from wickerwork in the off-season.
The success of wickerwork sales has in fact caused a shortage of water hyacinth and, incredibly, the weed must be brought in from other areas to maintain production levels. While the aggressive weed is still far from being a cash crop and is still a pest in some regions, few would have guessed ten years ago that it could ever be in demand. In Chaninat Province, water hyacinth is actually being cultivated to produce the long stems that are best for wickerwork. The success of the water hyacinth project has led researchers to examine vetiver grass, or ya fak , another fast-growing weed once thought to be of no value, but which now appears to have potential applications in handicraft. Meanwhile, other uses for the water hyacinth are also being studied.