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Floating Gardening in Coastal Bangladesh: Evidence of Sustainable Farming for Food Security Under Climate Change

L. M. Pyka
Department of Geography, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany

A. Al-Maruf
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

M. Shamsuzzoha
Department of Emergency Management, Patuakhali Science & Technology University, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh

J. C. Jenkins
Department of Sociology, Mershon Center for International Security Studies, Ohio State University, Columbus OH 43201, U.S.A

B. Braun
Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Around a quarter part of Bangladesh is flooded for several months a year, affecting agriculture in particular - this has far-reaching consequences for the lives of the rural population. Especially during the monsoon season, many people in water-rich areas suffer from food shortages and nutrient deficiencies, mainly due to crop failures and lower incomes. Through the use of floating gardens, smallholder farmers can use flooded areas that would otherwise be unmanageable for months. Due to the growing population pressure and the potential impact of climate change in Bangladesh, available agricultural land may decrease, making such innovative cultivation methods more important. Coastal people of Bangladesh have practiced this farming method to grow vegetables and seedlings on floating beds and thereby secure food production and farmers' income with adverse climatic shocks. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the overall methods of floating gardening, and how it contributes to food security at the households’ level. The findings of the study are based on nine qualitative interviews with the local farmers and key informant interviews (KII). The study shows floating gardening is a sustainable farming method and income strategy for rural households in coastal flood-prone regions of Bangladesh. Floating gardens contribute to food security by nutrient intake growing vegetables. Areas that cannot be cultivated are made usable, and the achievable income ensures the security and variety of food in the season of the floating gardens.

Keywords: Sustainable farming, Floating gardening, Food security, Climate change

Location: Barisal district of Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farming System

Non-commodity: Adoption and mitigation technology

Objectives:

To sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life

Methodology:

This study essentially used qualitative data through direct interviews with different levels of respondents. Interviews with local farmers of floating gardens were conducted to collect data to address the research question. The interviews were conducted in the Barisal district, which is located in the south of Bangladesh. Within the two sub-districts (Upazila) of Banaripara and Wazirpur, interviews were conducted in three villages. In Banaripara the interviews were conducted in the Union Bisharkandi in the village Umarerpar, Ward 7 and in the Union Iluhar in the village Peseim Maluhar in Ward 9. In Wazirpur the interviews were conducted in the Union Shatla in the village Shibpur in Ward 3. Long-lasting floods make it routinely difficult to use agricultural land in this district. The study area was selected because the cultivation method is not to be found in every district of Bangladesh (Alam & Chowdhury, 2018) and contacts exist that made this research feasible. The selection of the specific villages was made in the field and dependent on the availability of farmers in the region. Individual and group interviews were conducted. A total of nine interviews were carried out with farmers. All main contacts for the interviews were male. Women were also present in the group interviews, some of them participated in the discussion to provide additional information regarding households. To structure the qualitative interview, a questionnaire was developed. The questionnaires contained ten thematic blocks: (1) personal data, (2) general information on floating gardens, (3) general information on the study area, (4) floating gardens and changing environmental conditions, (5) government support, (6) floating gardens as a sustainable income strategy, (7) floating gardens and food security, (8) crop calendar, (9) floating gardens and their limitations, (10) the implementation of floating gardens in other regions. Most interviews lasted 50 minutes, some 90-100 minutes. In addition to the interviews with the farmers, we interviewed expert observers: the chief agricultural officer of Wazirpur sub-district; a professor of agriculture and climate change at a regional university (climate change and local farming) and two representatives of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Care Bangladesh. The interview situation was recorded on audio carriers that were transcribed, allowing an authentic presentation of the conversations. Each transcribed interview was then checked with the translator to clarify any discrepancies and to allow any lost information to flow back into the translation from Bengali into English. The interviews were then analyzed using Mayring's qualitative content analysis and evaluated using MAXQDA computer software.

Source of Information: Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Vol 1 No 4 December 2020 Pages 161-168

Article Link (Online Journal): http://doi.org/10.47440/JAFE.2020.1424

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Floating gardens represent a sustainable and lucrative income strategy for rural households in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh, which is also recognized by the country's government. Areas that cannot be cultivated are made usable, and the achievable income ensures the security and variety of food in the season of the floating gardens for almost all respondents. Food insecurity is strongly linked to the financial affordability of food and less to the availability of food. The repayment at the end of the season of the loans at high-interest rates taken out to cover the investment costs of the beds will put a strain on the family's financial reserves. This increases the risk of food insecurity in low-income months. Loans at lower interest rates can help to improve the situation of farmers. In addition, further training by the government and NGOs can help to teach the technology more effectively and sustainably to the farmers. This would also help farmers to network with each other in order to exchange knowledge and support each other, even beyond village borders. The income strategy opens up further directly connected fields of activity in addition to the cultivation of the beds and thus has a large sphere of influence from which many people benefit. The use of natural resources does not damage the environment, as is often the case with conventional agriculture. Further studies may show whether the addition of chemical pesticides and fertilizers is necessary or whether they can be replaced by natural ones. This will protect the environment and reduce investment costs for farmers.

Knowledge Management: Journal