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Floating Cultivation: an Indigenous Technology for Adapting to Water Logging Situation Towards Sustainable Livelihood Security in the Low Lying Areas of Bangladesh

Md. Altaf Hossain
Principal Scientific Officer
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), Ministry of Agriculture, Krishi Khamar Sarak, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The southern, southwestern and the coastal areas of Bangladesh remain submerged for long periods every year, especially during the monsoon season. People in these areas have been coping with submerged/flooded conditions for generations. The people of these areas depend on agriculture. They have adopted a method of cultivation, locally referred to as “Vasoman Chash,” meaning floating agriculture, since the time of their forefather’s. This system is similar to hydroponics, which is a scientific method whereby the plants are grown in the water and they derive their nutrients from the water instead of from the soil. The production rate is high from this kind of agricultural practice. Floating agriculture is a possible local knowledge based technology which would help in attaining sustainable livelihood security in the vulnerable areas like waterlogged areas in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Waterlogging/flood coping strategy,Sustainable livelihood, Indigenous practices

Location: Tungipara Upazila, Gopalgonj implemented by Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), Ministry of Agriculture, Krishi Khamar Sarak, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-06-2012

End Date: 00-08-2013

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Vegetables

Objectives:

To develop indigenous technology for adapting to water logging situation towards sustainable livelihood security in the low lying areas of Bangladesh

Methodology:

Farming procedure of Floating Cultivation: The soil-less cultivation system was first introduced in Gopalgonj, Pirojpur and Barisal district in Bangladesh. Recently this farming system is practiced in water logged areas of Keshabpur of Jessore District. The cultivation procedures are not identical in all areas. The hydroponics farming technique of Gopalgonj is quite different from that of the Pirojpur technique. Considering the uniqueness of the technique involved only the Gopalgonj method is mentioned below: i) Floating bed (Dhap) preparation After harvesting the Aman (cultivated in the monsoon season) paddy, water hyacinth is collected in May to July from the nearby river, canals, ditches, lagoons and from the wetland where it grows profusely. Straw and rice stubble are also used for the same purpose. The depth of the water bodies is not so significant for preparation of bed. They can be made and managed in any depth of water. Farmers put a long bamboo on the mass of fully matured water hyacinths. Then a man stands on the bamboo and gathers immature hyacinth over mature one. He starts to pull the water hyacinths from the both sides of the bamboo and flatten them under foot. In this process he proceeds towards the end of the bamboo. This process is continued until the desired height and length of the bed is attained. Farmers again dump water hyacinths after 7-10 days later from the first dumping and then the bed is left for decomposition before sowing or planting of seedlings. The upper layer is comprised of deposits of small and quick-rotting waterworts (or small duck weed type of plant), which degrade quickly and make for good manure. It requires 15-20 days from the collection and preparation of the water hyacinth and other materials or the floating bed before cultivation can begin. Farmers carry this bed by rowing to the desired area. ii) Shape and size of the floating bed: The size and shape of the bed is not fixed. Farmers make the bed as their desired size and shape. Generally, the dimension of the bed is 50-155 ft. long, 5-7 ft. width and 2-3 ft. height. The distances between beds depend on length of land. The narrow strip shaped bed is made so that it can be easily made by gathering water hyacinths easily, can be easily carried to desired places and harvesting of crops is convenient. iii) Cultivation procedure Sometimes farmers make a small ball called ‘Tema’ which is made by aquatic plant locally known as Dulali lata along with compost material. After making the ball farmers put sprouted seeds into it. They make seedbed on raised land around their homestead areas and put the Tema on seedbed. In Tungipara Upazila, Gopalgonj farmers cultivate mixed crop on floating beds. At initial stage they cultivate Ladies finger, Cucumber and ribbed gourd in the same bed during June to August. Usually two rows of Ladies finger and one row of Cucumber or Ribbed Gourd are alternately cultivated. Crops are harvested from the month of August to October. The crops are harvested one after another till the next rainy season. Farmers use small country boat to move around the floating beds and pick up vegetables from the beds.iv) Maintenance: Sometimes saplings on the floating bed turns yellow, to encounter the problem farmers chop the decomposed parts of the bed, roots of water hyacinth and put them underneath the seedlings or put the chopped materials on the floating bed one feet away from the edge of the bed. Thus, the seedlings get nutrients from the same and become healthy and start to grow. After planting saplings onto the floating bed de-weeding becomes a regular job of farmers. Bamboos are used as anchorage of floating beds to keep them fixed in a place and prevent from floating away by wind or water current. During the monsoon, farmers use small country boats to manage the floating agricultural land. v) Cost & Benefit Analysis of Floating Vegetable Cultivation: Following is a brief estimate of costs incurred and benefits accrued from a typical soil-less cultivation system in floating vegetable culture consisting of 10 Dhaps, each measuring about 45 feet x 06 feet = 270 sq. feet. Estimated cost for making 10 floating beds is BDT 10,000.00 while estimated income from 10 such beds is BDT 34,000.00; the gross benefit being BDT 24,000.00 per season.

Source of Information: Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, Vol. 01 (01): 54-58, 2014

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is a useful method considering the economical, environmental and as well as social aspects. The production rate was high from this kind of agricultural practice. Floating agriculture was a possible local knowledge based technology which would help in attaining sustainable livelihood security in the vulnerable areas like waterlogged areas in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal