S Kalimantan's Amuntai turn weeds into expensive goods

Amuntai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - From water hyacinth, which commonly considered as problematic weeds, craftsmen in North Hulu Sungai (HSU), made them into valueable and relatively expensive goods, from plaited mats to woman bags.


The team from South Kalimantan Bureau of Antaranews Agency in their trip met craftsmen incorporated in Kembang Ilung business group in Banyu Hirang Village, Amuntai Selatan Sub-district, who produce thousands of various crafts which are relatively expensive all made of water hyacinth.

A plaited mat, for example, processed in such a way very attractive sold for Rp500 thousand per sheet. Other products are woman's bag, sandals, key chains, tissue box, food containers, and many others.

Chief of Kembang Ilung business group Supian Nor said, water hyacinth handicrafts have been done for years. He especially learned and apprenticed in water hyacinth craftment in Yogyakarta.

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HSU is where swampy land outspread very vast and water hyacinth floating every where, and surrounding people houses.

"Water hyacinth around our houses is unnumerable and local farmers consider it as a problem, then we take it for crafts," Supian Nor said.

What the craftsmen are doing is considered by the people to help tackle the weeds which always interfere with agriculture crops and fish farming in the swampy area.

Supian himself makes his house as a processing place, including drying process, and also as a gallery of 50 types of water hyacinth handicraft.

In addition to water hyacinth, they produce purun grass and bamboo handicraft for their living.

To make people know their handicraft products, according to Supian, his group took part in various exhibition activities in a number of places in the country.
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