To counter the adverse effects of climate change, farmers have created a revolution in agriculture by successfully growing vegetables on water in the waterlogged areas of subtropical regions of Bangladesh. Hydroponic farming is becoming increasingly popular in the wetlands of the region. As a result, farmers are benefiting as well as establishing an effective alternative to deal with the adverse effects of climate change. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared the Nazirpur area of the country as part of the world agricultural heritage for creating a unique precedent by cultivating vegetables in floating gardens on water.
Pirojpur is one of the most affected districts in the coastal region of Bangladesh due to the adverse effects of climate change. Due to the increase in the water level of the Bay of Bengal, the lower areas of Deulbari Dobra and Kolardoa Union of Nazirpur Upazila of Pirojpur District have become waterlogged, like many lower areas in the sub-districts of Bangladesh.
A large amount of land in these two unions is waterlogged throughout the year. As a result, a large number of farmers were affected as farming was not possible in this area for a long time. But the farmers of this area have revolutionised the production of tree seedlings and vegetables on the waterlogged lowlands by floating method. Even two centuries ago, when you went to this area, you could see only water and water for miles. And now, if you go to this area, you will see different types of vegetable gardens floating on the water. Fighting the hostile environment due to climate change, the farmers of this area have created their own floating vegetable gardens and seedbeds.
Dig Vijay Hazra, Agriculture Officer of Nazirpur Upazila said that here, two hundred hectares of land are cultivated on this floating land of vegetables or spices. Here the farmers mostly grow vegetables or vines on the land beds. In some cases it produces turmeric in the field of plants and spices. Farmers mainly grow vegetables or spices on floating beds to avoid waterlogging, especially due to the creation of waterlogged, rising sea levels.
Abdus Sattar Bepari, a veteran farmer of Bil Dumuria village in Deulbari Dobra union, said that even two centuries ago, his land was waterlogged for half of the year.When the water receded, he used to cultivate paddy in the dry season. But twenty years ago his land was completely submerged under water. Being under water for the whole year, cultivation could not be done. As a result, many farmers like him fell on their heads. They continue to suffer financially.
Abdus Sattar Bapary, oldest Farmer of Bil Dumuria also said that to deal with this adverse situation, some farmers were able to build a floating garden in stages. Initially, the production of vegetables was low, but now they have successfully cultivated various types of vegetables in floating gardens. At the same time, he has developed seed beds for various vegetables in the floating garden. As a result, they no longer have to buy vegetable seedlings from outside, he said.
When asked to another veteran farmer, Mr. Abdur Rashid about the step by step method, he said – the waters of the Bil Dumuria wetlands are rich in aquatic plants including sedges, sedges, algae and a variety of water tolerant grasses. Then these aquatic plants are piled up and decomposed to form a floating step. They started growing vegetables on these floating steps. As their new method of farming became successful, floating vegetable gardens began to develop on many of the wetlands in the area. Now floating vegetable gardens have been developed in most of the waterlogged lands of Deulbari Dobra and Kalar Doa Union of Nazirpur Upazila. After the discovery of farming in this way, the smile returned to the face of the farmer. They now make a comfortable living by selling vegetables from the floating garden.
Abu Hena Mohammad Zafar, Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension, Pirojpur said they have a lot of kachuripana here. Kachuripana, dulalilata, cocodust, and algae are found in abundance. With these they make floating beds. Then they grow vegetables here.
Talking to some farmers of this area, it is known that the size of floating vegetable gardens in step systems is 70-80 meters in length and 2-4 meters in width. However, the size of the steps is a little smaller for seeding. They are 50-60 meters in length and 1.50 to 2 metres in width. The steps for seeding are two-tiered. A two-foot-thick step or floating seedbed is first created in the wetlands by layering kachuripana, algae and various aquatic grasses, veteran farmers said.
Obaidul Haque, most old farmer said that farmers usually grow gourds, beans, brinjals, papayas, bitter gourds, tomatoes, cucumbers, marma, puishak, sweet pumpkin, rice pumpkin, chili and various spices in the floating gardens. Many farmers also grow red vegetables, mustard and turmeric.
Abu Hena Mohammad Zafar, Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension, Pirojpur added that the fFarmers in Nazirpur cultivate vine vegetables, vines and other vegetables such as radish, bitter gourd, cucumber etc. Turmeric is mainly produced among spice crops. Farmers used to use organic fertilisers in vegetable cultivation in step methods. But now farmers use different types of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to protect crops from viruses.
Another veteran farmer Mr. Moyen Uddin said that it used to be a very good crop. We are not able to produce well due to disease for several years. What we produce is loss. In this viral disease, the disease is caught by what we produce.]
At present, about 7,000 farmers practice floating farming in about two hundred hectares of waterlogged land in Deulbari Dobra and Kalardwania Unions of Nazirpur Upazila. Not only male farmers but also female farmers are working equally in this cultivation.
Moyen Uddin added that I cultivated potatoes. During winter we cultivate bitter gourd, pepper, marma, gourd, pumpkin, brinjal and many other things.
As an alternative to agricultural land in the wetlands of Nazirpur in Pirojpur district, floating cultivation in wetlands has not only created a revolution in agriculture, but has also received a lot of response in the international arena. As a result, the floating farming system developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO Nazirpur in this area was recognized as an Agricultural Heritage Zone in 2017. And as a result, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Honourable Sheikh Hasina received a special award.
Abu Hena Mohammad Zafar, Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension, Pirojpur also said our Nazirpur area of Pirojpur district is a part of world heritage. This resulted in awarding the Hon’ble Prime Minister for the floating farming system.
Since receiving this recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Government of Bangladesh has taken various initiatives for floating farming in the low-lying areas of the subtropical regions that have been submerged under water due to the effects of climate change.
Dig Vijay Hazra, Agriculture Officer of Nazirpur Upazila added that in all areas of the country where there is waterlogging, vegetables and spices can be cultivated using the floating method using kachuripana. The government has a scheme called “Floating Bed Vegetable and Spice Cultivation and Research Extension Scheme”. This project is running in 42 upazilas of Bangladesh. It operates in areas where there is waterlogging like Nazirpur. Encouraged by this, its activities will spread across the country.
Abu Hena Mohammad Zafar, Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension, Pirozpur added that Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute has started research activities with the Directorate of Agricultural Extension. What materials they use can be used for two or three seasons instead of just one bed in one season and further research is being done on what materials can be used to make the bed last for 5-10 years or 15-20 years. If these floating beds become permanent, their costs will decrease and profits will increase.
The agriculture department of the government should take more effective initiatives to spread this farming system in the areas of sub-tropical regions of the country which have become waterlogged due to the adverse effects of climate change. Apart from this, the problems and limitations of this farming system should be solved by intensive research. Only then, due to the increase in the water level of the Bay of Bengal due to climate change, will it be possible to produce a wide variety of vegetables by creating floating gardens in the low-lying areas of the subtropical regions of the country that have become waterlogged. And in this way it will be possible to deal with the adverse effects of climate change in Bangladesh.
G M Mourtoza, [email protected]
Head of News and Multimedia, Radio Padma 99.2 FM and PadmaNews24.com
