Turning Reeds Into Revenue

Program:

Phragmites, an invasive reed choking parts of the Chilika ecosystem, is being converted into value-added products instead of simply being cleared and discarded, turning an ecological problem into a livelihood opportunity. Run with BCKIC, the project has completed laboratory-scale optimisation for the biomass conversion process, secured all necessary approvals from the Chilika Development Authority, and identified a community hall to serve as the pilot production facility. 30 community beneficiaries have been identified and mobilised for the pilot production phase, which is now underway with the goal of producing market-ready products and validating the process at scale. With technical validation complete and infrastructure in place, the project is positioned to move from pilot to full production, though the current 30-person figure reflects early-stage mobilisation rather than the initiative's eventual reach.