Unveiling the situation of water hyacinth on fresh water bodies in Nigeria and South Africa: Management, workable practices and potentials

Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) usually found in freshwater course has remain an unresolved challenge for many countries round the world. The existence of these intrusive weeds from past studies revealed the weighty consequences it poses to the aquatic environment that indirectly affect human health and activities. The presence of the weed in fresh water has become a major threat to economic, social activities especially to individuals who obtain their source of livelihood and survival from waterways, lack of access to clean water resulting to increased spread of water borne diseases and health implications is equally noted as continuous threat of this weed. Several efforts made to eradicate this weed have proved unsuccessful as the invasive weed outgrow the control methods. This review focus on assessing the influence situation of water hyacinth on fresh water body in developing countries using Nigeria and South Africa as a case study. The objective provides the management and workable practices towards utilizing the potentials. Recommendations include incorporating sustainable control practises, utilizing the weed potentials to solve major problems arising in both countries. Such problem includes boosting food production in Nigeria and improving water availability in South Africa. This review further highlighted the necessity of proactive technological solutions for water hyacinth utilization.

Keywords

• Utilization
• Sustainable control practice
• Water hyacinth