Water hyacinth prices rise sharply, benefiting Dong Thap farmers

Rising prices create new livelihoods from a “wild plant”

Prolonged hot weather in Dong Thap is creating favorable conditions for the harvesting and drying of water hyacinth. In addition to shortening processing time, the dry weather also helps improve product quality. Notably, dried water hyacinth prices remain high, providing a stable source of income for many rural workers.

In Phu Cuong commune, Dong Thap province, many households take advantage of collecting water hyacinth from rivers and canals, cutting it into pieces and drying it for sale to traders. What seems like a simple job has become an important livelihood for many families, especially during the off-farming season.

Mr Nguyen Van Tuong, a dried water hyacinth collector in Phu Cuong commune, said that high-quality dried water hyacinth is currently priced at around VND 24,000–25,000/kg. According to him, prices for this commodity fluctuate with the market, at times falling to just over VND 10,000/kg, but are currently relatively high, making people very pleased.

“The price of dried water hyacinth goes up and down depending on the export market, but currently it is about VND 25,000/kg. Good-quality products fetch higher prices, while lower-quality ones are slightly cheaper,” Mr Tuong shared.

At current prices, many workers can earn several hundred thousand VND per day, depending on output. In addition to generating income, harvesting water hyacinth also helps clear waterways, reducing congestion in canals, a common issue in many Mekong Delta localities.

After being collected, dried water hyacinth is sorted and supplied to weaving facilities both within and outside the province for handicraft production. This environmentally friendly raw material is increasingly favored in many international markets.

Ms Le Thi Tuyet, head of a water hyacinth weaving cooperative group for export in Cao Lanh commune, Dong Thap province, said that the unit maintains stable procurement to meet orders from foreign partners. Products such as bags, mats, and decorative items made from water hyacinth are currently exported to markets such as Korea, Japan, and China.

Currently, market demand is quite strong, especially for eco-friendly products. Therefore, ensuring a stable supply of high-quality dried water hyacinth is key to maintaining credibility with partners.

Forming production linkages to enhance export value

Beyond raw material collection, water hyacinth weaving in Dong Thap has developed cooperative groups and craft villages associated with deeper processing. The water hyacinth weaving cooperative group in Hamlet 4, My Hiep commune, Dong Thap province, is a typical example. Initially consisting of just over 10 members and about 150 linked households, the group has now expanded to more than 300 participating households.

Ms Truong Thi Hong Tham, head of the weaving cooperative group in Hamlet 4, said the unit acts as an intermediary, receiving orders from enterprises and then assigning work to households in the commune based on skill levels. Each product has different requirements, such as baskets, mats, or decorative items. The group allocates work accordingly to ensure both progress and quality.

The weaving craft here was established in 2008 and was officially recognized as a craft village in 2018. The products are diverse, including mats, handbags, pots, and decorative items, and meet demand in both domestic and international markets. By utilizing available raw materials, the craft village has created jobs for hundreds of rural workers and increased incomes.

From a business perspective, Dong Thap Artex Joint Stock Company is one of the leading enterprises in the production and export of water hyacinth products. Each year, the company exports about $6 million worth of products such as mats, storage baskets, shelves, trays, and vases to markets including the United States, Australia, Japan, and France, creating jobs for thousands of local workers.

According to Mr Nguyen Huu Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dong Thap Artex Joint Stock Company, handicraft products made from water hyacinth are now widely available in both domestic and international markets. When receiving orders, the company produces frames according to designs and then assigns processing to cooperative groups and craft villages within the province, forming an effective production linkage chain.

* $1 = VND 26,361 - Source: Vietcombank.