Sichuan Water Conservancy Intelligent Equipment & Engineering Co., Ltd. was established in 2004 and currently boasts more than 500 sets of production instruments, with a staff of more than 300. The company's main business is R&D, design, manufacture, sale, and service in hydroelectric intelligent equipment. With years of experience in the manufacturing of water hyacinth harvesters, the company's machine is seen as a game-changer in the fight against water hyacinth infestation in Kenya.
Water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic plant that grows rapidly and covers vast areas of water bodies, causing various environmental and economic problems. The plant is notorious for obstructing waterways and reducing the quality of water in aquatic ecosystems, leading to problems like reduced fish populations, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of water-borne diseases. The water hyacinth's presence in Lake Victoria has been a huge challenge for the government and the fishing communities surrounding the lake.
The Sichuan Water Conservancy Intelligent Equipment & Engineering Co., Ltd. water hyacinth harvester is one of the most efficient machines for removing the weed from water bodies. The machine uses a system of conveyor belts that scoop up the water hyacinth and transport it to the machine's chopping mechanism, where it is broken down into smaller pieces. The broken-down hyacinth is then transported along another conveyor belt to the machine's storage area, where it is collected for disposal or processing into other products like fertilizers.
Despite the availability of the water hyacinth harvester, the Kenya government has been slow in deploying it. The cause of this delay has been attributed to various factors, including the machine's high operational cost and the lack of trained personnel to operate it. However, with the recent move to transfer ownership of the machine to the Ministry of East Africa and Regional Development, there is renewed optimism that the harvester will soon start operation.
The Ministry of East Africa and Regional Development has indicated that it will soon mobilize resources to ensure that the water hyacinth harvester starts operating soon. The machine's deployment will be carried out in phases, starting with its trial run on Lake Victoria's waters. The government is optimistic that the technology will help clear the plant from the lake, enabling fishermen to operate freely, and restoring the lake's ecosystem.
In conclusion, the deployment of the Sichuan Water Conservancy Intelligent Equipment & Engineering Co., Ltd. water hyacinth harvester is a step in the right direction towards managing the water hyacinth plant in Lake Victoria. It is expected to help address the environmental and economic challenges caused by the invasive plant. It is now up to the government to ensure that the machine is fully operational and that it is deployed to other water bodies affected by the water hyacinth infestation. The government must also invest in training personnel to operate and maintain the machine to ensure its long-term sustainability.