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Khayelitsha brothers turn invasive hyacinth into biochar business

Siyanda and Akhona Sopangisa hope to sell biochar to farmers

Siyanda Sopangisa and volunteer Monde Kuse pack biochar made from water hyacinth. Photos: Vincent Lali

Brothers Siyanda and Akhona Sopangisa harvest invasive water hyacinth from the Blowy wetland in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, to make into biochar for gardens.
They sell the biochar at a market and from their small shop.
Now they are hoping to sell in bulk to farmers.

When invasive hyacinth blocked their canoe trips in the Khayelitsha wetland, Siyanda and Akhona Sopangisa started harvesting the hyacinth to make biochar. Now they want to take their business further by selling in bulk to farmers.
Every morning Akhona Sopangisa and a volunteer head to the Blowy wetland in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, to harvest hyacinth. The wetland used to be the…

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