HAYAAT

Introduction

Project Hayaat is an initiative by Enactus Jamia Millia Islamia, wherein we strive to remove water hyacinth from water bodies with the help of local communities residing on the banks of River Yamuna. Water Hyacinth are unwanted weeds that aggressively spread over water bodies and affect irrigation, agriculture, fishing, inland navigation and tourism, thus being symptomatic of increasing water pollution. Providing a solution to this problem, Project Hayaat aims to pluck out these water hyacinths and use them to create vermicompost, which is very high in its nutrient content; thus effectively reimagining a bane as a boon.

Additionally, the project aims to promote organic farming, produce better yield and mainly provide an extra source of income to the community involved.

Mission

The project aims to conserve aquatic biodiversity by using water hyacinth as a fertilizer and decrease the use of chemical fertilizers, thus reducing the pollution created in water bodies, while also developing eco friendly composts as products to the public. Thus, by aiming to enhance aquatic life, we work towards creating a good environmental impact that benefits everyone.

Overview

• Known as the world’s worst water weed, Water Hyacinth has invaded freshwater systems in more than 50 countries.
• Water hyacinth infestations have become a major problem for farmers. As a result- every year before the cropping season begins, Indian farmers end up spending a lot of money to rid their paddy fields of these weeds.
• Thus, we work towards removing water hyacinth from water bodies with the help of local communities residing on the banks of River Yamuna.
• The plucked weeds are transferred to the land for vermicomposting. After drying, they are mixed with ash, soil and manure— to produce a rich pathogen-free mulch.
• The innovation in our project is adding of red worms to raise nutritional value and decrease time for formation of compost.
• The formulated product directly serves as an economical substitute for the harmful chemical fertilizers– thus eliminating another evil.
• The organic fertilizer made out of Water Hyacinth is packed and transported to the targeted consumer communities.
• Our initiative also provides a stable income to the involved communities whilst augmenting their quality of living by improving the water bodies around them.

Goals

• To conserve aquatic biodiversity by removing the water hyacinth in the water bodies.
• To use the water hyacinth as a fertilizer through green manure or compost.
• To eliminate the use of harmful chemical fertilizers by introducing the sustainable and organic alternative.
• To reduce erosion of the soil and crops through the rich pathogen free compost.
• To provide an extra source of income to the community involved.

Means Of Empowerment

• We have empowered and equipped the farming community with different methods of composting and organic farming.
• We provide the community involved with opportunities of employment and, in turn, a stable source of income which provides them with financial autonomy.
• We have encouraged the community to build a better life by providing them a well-grounded business model.

Projected Impact

• Through effective implementation and meticulous research, we aim to reduce 8.54 metric tons of carbon dioxide in just a span of six months to revive River Yamuna from the deadly clutches of hyacinth infestations.
• We aim to produce approximately 250,000 kg of nutrient-rich compost on 2.5 acres of land.
• We are also assisting in maintaining ecosystems, improving water quality and elimination of water-borne diseases.
• We sensitize the public about the need of and their ability to prevent climate change.
• Through our project, will be positively impacting the lives of over 3000 people and will further provide employment to 57 individuals.
• We aim to prevent soil erosion of at least 80 hectares of land by replacing chemical fertilizers by our organic product, accelerating flora growth.

Way forward

• As we continue to build our brand and grow our enterprise, We intend to take impactful step in order to fully utilise the Water Hyacinth.
• We aim to produce several sustainable utility products like papers, handicrafts, bags, etc, by converting this weed into fiber.
• Water Hyacinth can also be used for biogas generation, an arena we are looking to explore.
• Project Hayaat has been garnering immense attention through our continuous community outreach and awareness efforts, and is gaining a foothold in the market.

Concerns:

Social

• The final product, that is, the compost, will be very helpful in agricultural activities.
• Enhances the quality of life of the associated community due to improvement in water bodies.

Economic

• Promotes organic farming and encourages better yield.
• Provides an extra source of income to the community involved.
• Reflects our traditional economic market system.

Enviromental

• Helps in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and the pollution which they create in the water bodies.
• Creates a positive impact on wildlife and ecosystem services.
• Helps reduce the erosion of the soil and crops.