Bangladesh: Floating gardens may be a sustainable solution to flooding

Published 2021년 7월 3일

Tridge summary

Floating gardens, made from native aquatic plants, are a sustainable farming method used to grow crops in wetlands, particularly in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, and India. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recognized Bangladesh's floating gardens as a globally important agricultural heritage system (GIAHS). A study featured in the Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment (JAFE) highlights the potential of these gardens to mitigate food insecurity and increase the income of rural families in flood-prone areas. Despite the need for pesticides and fertilizers due to pest issues, the benefits outweigh the costs. The process involves the active participation of community members, mainly women, children, and elders, and can generate four times the income compared to rice cultivation in paddies.

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Original content

Floating gardens are made of native aquatic plants like water hyacinths. Farmers arrange the plants together in a river, forming floating raised beds about three feet deep. This farming approach is traditionally used to produce food in the wetlands, especially during the rainy season. Okra, spinach, eggplant, turmeric, and ginger are the common crops grown over the hyacinth beds. The concept of floating gardens existed hundreds of years ago. This practice has been observed not just in Bangladesh where it is considered a tradition, but also in other countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and India. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) labeled Bangladesh’s floating gardens as a globally important agricultural heritage system (GIAHS). A study by the Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment (JAFE) shows that floating gardens could be a solution to mitigate food insecurity and boost the income of rural families, especially those residing in flood-prone areas. ...

Source: Mb