Ichhamati River flowing over Santhia upazila of Pabna has been entirely covered by water hyacinth. People can no longer use the water of this river because of these free flowing aquatic plant.
Although, people are unable to use the water of Ichamati, the river has been helping people in other ways through its vast production of water hyacinth. This quickly growing water plant can be used in many ways and being used by locals already.
Due to the high price of straw and raw grass, for the last 5 to 6 years, local people of the villages around the river have been collecting water hyacinth and feeding it to their cows.
At present, this traditional river is rich in water hyacinth as well as in water spinach. So now, instead of water hyacinth, many people are collecting the water spinach and feeding it to their cows. It is a more nutritious cow-food than water hyacinth.
Water spinach is also a good and delicious vegetable for people. It is eaten in almost all over the country as a tasty vegetable.