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“ጋኖች: አለቁና: ምንቸቶች: ጋን ሆኑ”

By Haimanot Wudu Fanta (Ze Behere Menqorer- መንቆረር)

“If you want to be a good saddler, saddle the worst horse; for if you can tame one, you can tame all.”

Socrates Greek philosopher from 469 -399 B.C

Lake Tana (ጣና)

The Ethiopian have a saying which goes like this: ” GANOCH ALEQUNA MENCHETOCH GAN

HONU” “ጋኖች:አለቁና: ምንቸቶች: ጋን ሆኑ” Professionally I am not a water expert at all, but with this paper I am trying to be one despite having no proper education. Water engineering is the academic background of the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia, His Excellency Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn. My academic background is public administration, public policy and management. So far, I did not hear much from his Excellency the Prime Minister about the disaster that is looming around Bahar Dar and in and around Lake Tana. I therefore took the liberty to say something about this disaster until the real expert or experts utter a word of comfort. I am trying to be an authority in a subject that I am not one . That is why I titled my article ” GANOCH ALEQUNA MENCHETOCH GAN

HONU” “ጋኖች:አለቁና: ምንቸቶች: ጋን ሆኑ” Most of Ethiopians within and those without, i.e. of Ethiopian origin in the diaspora already

know, that great Lake of Ethiopia which is found in the northwestern plateau of Ethiopia, at 1800

meter above sea level, and which is the main reservoir for the great Blue Nile or the Abbay River is in

the last days of its demise. Because of a foreign plant what the local population calls “EMBOCH”

(እንቦጭ). I assume this plant is what the west calls the water hyacinth or known by its botanical

name water hyacinth Eichhornia Crassipes (Mart). If that is the case, then we have a great problem

not only to Ethiopia but both to the Sudan and Egypt. The water hyacinth is an aggressive water plant

that for more than 100 years and in almost all continents is creating huge nuisance. The problem now

has grown to such proportions that many governments including Ethiopia are wondering what to do

with their hands in the air. I do not know about the others, but ours is in prayers. That is what we do

always when we are confronted with imminent danger. Growing up in MONQORER（መንቆረር）

where heavy rains coupled with thunderstorms and lightening roll across the city of Debere Marcos

(መንቆረር）year in, year out, I remember how many times I used to say “BE SEME ABE” ( በስማም -

በስመ አብ), that was my “MEBEREQ MEKELAKEYA” (መብረቅ መከላከያ) however it was later in my

life, that I have learned a lightning rod or a metallic conductor that is attached to a high point can

also lead the forces of the lighting to the ground there by protecting the houses and the people from

destruction. Perhaps it is time for us to stretch one arm to God and the other to the shovel.

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The Explorer of tropical South America C.F.P. von Martius first identified the water hyacinth

with this name in 1824. He suggested that this plant as a separate genus and then the western explorers registered this plant the same year. The botanist C.S. Kunth named the plant in 1842 after the then Prussian Minister of education, culture and medicine John Albert Friedrich Eichhorn. From that moment onwards, this plant is known with its botanical name of the water hyacinth Eichhornia Crassipes (Mart.). However, the very first entry of this plant in the botanical list dates back to 1756. Sir Patrick Browne listed this plant based on a plant collection from Jamaica. It is clear that the water hyacinth in the 19th century is widespread in the Northern part of South America. Furthermore, it appears that the water plant has a large variety usually based on the natural habitats, color of the flower and other characteristics. Today scientists distinguish at least eight types of water hyacinth that do exist in almost every continent. In the span of a century and a half, the water hyacinth rapidly expanded over large parts of the world, and I think that it is now our turn. This plant is a very

dangerous and fast growing.. Specially the one that we see around Lake Tana (ጣና) is one of the aggressive types, which is common to Africa.

We all know that Lake Tana (ጣና)) is relatively a shallow water mass; on such circumstances, the biomass doubles itself in an area within 14 days, sometimes in only 6 days. Water hyacinth floating on the surface usually shoots its root in shallow portions of the water mass. They multiply in a manner which some call “emitting short walking tribes”. The shooting of these daughter/son plants (call it whatever you want) separates easily from the mother plant. Unfortunately it is only the offspring’s of humans who are dependent on their parents for long, even waking and talking takes us more than one year. Our adaption to nature in the 5 post-natal years is indeed very slow. This plant also produces a large number of seeds that can survive in the soil for 15 years. The consequences of rapid growth are immense, both for man and for nature.

To illustrate: today, 80% of the Ugandan coastline of Lake Victoria is covered by this plant and due to this the Kenyan port city of Kisumu is separated from the rest of Lake Victoria by large islands of water hyacinth, which together amounts for more than 2000 acres of land. Thus, these 2000 acers of land is a waste. Ships have 5 hours to make small journey, local fishing boats have no chance to stand up against the biomass. Consequently, in South of Kisumu, especially in Kusa Bay, the existence of a community of anglers (common name for fisherman and Fisherwomen) amounting 2000 people is destroyed. There were 52 fishing boats in this region but now almost none, and the economy is stagnating due to the water plant. By its sheer size the plant takes a lot of light away from the water, due to this, native plants die off and get rot. The weeds absorbs so much oxygen from the water and makes for great fishing mortality. In addition, the lush mats are excellent breeding ground for microorganisms that, in turn is favorable to malaria, bilharzia, river blindness and other tropical infectious diseases. In addition, the infrastructures are having considerable damage. The inlet hydroelectric power plants become corrupted, pumps for drinking water supply shorted out, turbine engines of cooling power stations overheated and drainage channels blocked to name some of the problems around social facilities. One analysis estimates the damage around Lake Victoria to be around 150 million per year. In other regions and in some cases the problems are extreme, but sometimes in some other regions the problems may be less extreme than on Lake Victoria, however this does not mean that the problem is less worrisome. Imagine what is going to happen to the Tis

Abbay (አባይ) Hydro Power Plant and the GRID if this problem persists. We used to say “BEDENBARI

BEQEKO QACHELE TECCHEMERO” ( በደንባሪ በቅሎ ቃጭል ተጨምሮ). At this moment there seems to be no end to this problem. In this round about crisis, man helps the further spread of the water hyacinth. Waste from factories and sewage systems forms an excellent breeding ground for the weeds.

How can Ethiopia Control the spread of this plant. Lessons learned from other countries:

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Over recent decades, many countries gained a lot of experience with various control methods, such as

mechanical removal, chemical pesticides and the use of natural enemies. In the end only a

combination of these methods, with a clear eye for the local situation the only way out. Even then,

this integrated pest management will probably never be able to take care of the final and total

removal of the water hyacinth. An integrated program is advisable to combat the plant. I think we

need to combat it, and if it is, possible try to remove this plant completely, but that is easier said than

done. Whichever side we see, the water hyacinth problem is so extensive that a controlled use of it

can for sure make positive contributions and a difference. It is always smart to look for a market to

the product that you just fight. Isn’t it? Even though our culture is the ‘’ASADEH BELEW and DEM

MELASH – ( አሳደህ በለው ደም መላሽ) culture, sometimes we need to calm down ourselves and our

soul and analyze and seek for different solutions.

For example, in different parts of the world we see different approaches towards the water

hyacinth problem. These days there are already many possibilities explored throughout the world. In

some cultures, one uses the plant as a food source for both animal and human. That is not as crazy as

we think because the protein content of this plant is relatively high. Some fish eat the roots as their

meal in nets of the same plant that they are caught in. In Taiwan, Java and the Philippines the

inhabitants eat the plant. I hope you will not respond with “GOMEN BETENA” (ጎመን: በጤና).

Sometimes the Malaysian and Chinese cook the young leaves with the branches and carry it to the

pigs. Though we do not have an extensive pig farm, we can always feed our Goats and sheep’s. I

assume my suggestion are not as complicated as the current discussions we see within and without

Ethiopia about a donkey slaughterhouse back home. Knowing what I know, I am not interested in

discussing that kind of endless senseless discussion with my fellow citizens.

Fertilizer:

Better known and widespread is to use the plant as fertilizer. The Bengal and some other

Asians use it to fertilize their land. The application varies from region to region. Some use it as

compost, some spray it, others spread it over the land, and others places it as a coat on the farmland.

A biogas plant: Water hyacinth is also excellent to use in a biogas plant. Here is the high water content again

an advantage. One Hectares of water hyacinth produces 70,000 m 3 gas, in other words 1 kilo dried plant delivers 370 liters of gas. Sanitation use:

In the South and North America, the water hyacinth is even turned for sanitation use. Research shows that water plant has the ability to fight all kinds of organic and inorganic elements. That means that the plant can be used to clean waters, which are deliberately contaminated, it takes even heavy metals and radioactive substances. I hope we all remember the story about foreign owned flower farms in Ethiopia and the pollution that they have created around Lake Zewaye

(ዝዋይ). We all saw on TV the human and animal health problems that the foreign investors have created by using hazardous chemicals, in the form of fertilizers and pesticides in and around the lake. Mostly the chemicals they use are washed off from the ground easily and enter the water bodies regularly. By the way do we have any water body which is not affected by these. , I hope our lake regions do turn to toxic lifeless useless areas. Water plant as raw material to create fiber:

The fibers of water hyacinths can be used for different purposes. In Cambodia, they make ropes out of the fibers of this plant. In Thailand, the dried plant fibers soaked in Glycerin are used as smoother for dyes. Some turn them in to durable Sandals; the choice is ours but as far as I am concerned I believe they are better than the famous Ethiopian (Gojjam) song “LEWEZEWEZEW BE

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EGERE GOJJAM NEW HAGERE” (ልወዝወዘዉ በእግሬ ጎጃም ነዉ ሀገሬ). In the meanwhile, napkin rings, seat cushions and placemats are also coming to the market. Most products come from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Kenya, Bangladesh, Thailand and the Philippines. Creating an NGO specialized in this direction in Ethiopia will be very advantageous. Finally yet importantly, we could also try to make paper from water hyacinth. Chemical control: One easy but dangerous way to fight water hyacinths is using chemicals, such as herbicides. However, there is a major danger, especially in large-scale and improper handling. Sometimes the remedy is often worse than the disease. In many countries, these herbicides ended up at the end of the food chain that is man. On such cycle, the population is going to pay for the use of chemical pesticides. Another great disadvantage using chemical control is that it never eradicates the plant, rather it only reduces it. Because the water hyacinth grows back from the dead remains of this notorious plant. It is like watching Michel Jacksons Thriller repeatedly. Apart from this, knowing well our experience with DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) I have a real fear and a great worry about this approach. Water hyacinth to produce paper: In the creation of paper, two things are essential: water and fibrous materials. Without water, there is no paper. Around 1980 there was an attempt by Bangladesh to produce paper from water hyacinth. The first results were far behind the expectations. It turns out that it was not so easy to use the water plant as a raw material for paper. The paper did not dry fast and it was very weak and was not beautiful in color. Generally, water hyacinth has high water content of about 90 to 96%. The plant can lose a lot of water, absorb a lot of water in a very short time, depending on the fall, or rise in temperature. Lowering of the water content in the biomass is therefore a prerequisite for the production of paper. In countries like Ethiopia one may suggest drying in the sun is a good solution, sadly, because of a high air humidity the plant may dry completely within two days, but once it is a molded mass it almost loses all of its moisture very fast, once that happens you cannot use it any more in a paper producing process. Artificial drying is an option but it is a costly solution for Ethiopia. However, if one is serious about a solution and take in to considerations some technical bottlenecks like pressing the raw material, use industrial cooking, and a priori decision for a proper storage, handling, and tracking of safety rules of chemicals on the projects regularly, then producing paper could be a partial solution for the water hyacinth, which is an environmental disaster of global proportions. Apart from these, I think we all of us need a great will to defeat this plant, for example if they have the will I think people like Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi can make a great impact in this

direction. We use to say “GENZEB KALE BE SEMAYE MENGED ALE” (ገንዘብ ካለ በሰማይ መንገድ

አለ):: Biological control:

Because the water hyacinth in most cases is an alien intruder (DENBERE ZELEL- ድንበር ዘለል) like what has happened in Ethiopia, the plant has no natural enemies indigenous from Ethiopia. However researches show that the Hippos, American Weevils, Argentinian and American moth and fungus especially weevils (Neochetina) are some among many natural enemies of this plant. I think this is the right time to say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Mechanical control: The ' weeding out ' of the weeds by hand or machine is also one of the solutions. In mechanical case, there are no significant disadvantages. Nevertheless, this mechanical fight again turns out not to be as easy as it might initially seem. In particular, the immense volume of the water plant is good in playing different tricks, do you remember the Russian-Croatian chess grandmaster former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov sometimes this plant is better chess master than Garry. It usually grows in tons per day in a proportion that man cannot endure. Even though human hands may not be

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enough, there are also, what they call “Water Dozers” machines. The first specially constructed water dozers come from England. In the Netherlands, they also built machines to do the job. Some of these machines work and do service at a place called Jinja in Uganda right at the inlet of the hydroelectric power plant. With powerful engines, four boats do the cleaning jobs daily traveling here and forth through the green mass. A same system operates in India and Hungary. However, the effect of mechanical removal is also subject to debate. Not only harvesting is sometimes dangerous, also the storage is a problem. Due to the large amount of water, that the plant contains it will take months

before the biomass is rotting. God save us from another “QOSHE” – (ቆሸ) type incident and this time around Bahar Dar. Some experts also claim that by clearing away we are creating a new space for even more aggressive water hyacinth. Conclusion:

Our world is so complex that nothing can be explained from one mono-casual (from one cause) and mono-solution (one solution) perspective. Whether we like it or not we are living in a multi-casual and multi-solution planet, that the is the brute reality. In addition, the influence of man on his surroundings is also paramount. If one wants to change the environment then one needs to change his behavior. We are not lucky in that perspective. I always wonder how a society can use the same method of plowing for more than 3000 years. We know that plowing by Ox in Ethiopia dates

back to 1000 BC, and yet we use the same ” MOFER QENBER ERFE” ((ሞፈር- ቀንበር- እርፍ)). The only thing that has changed is the name of the farmer, probably at this time his name is “BIWETA or

BIADGELEGNE.” (ቢወጣ -ቢያድግልኝ) or her name is ETENESH or TANGUET (እቴ ነሽ - ታንጉት ) To sum up, as far as I understand, no one method is good for everything. The era that penicillin and tetracycline were the treatment for everything and every sickness is gone for good. There are other diverse solutions available. Let us look forward together to build a better future to Ethiopia and its people.

** Some of the resources in this article are found in some academic studies at google.com Haimanot Wudu Fanta (Haimi Wudufanta)