To counter the adverse effects of climate change, farmers have created a revolution in agriculture by successfully cultivating vegetables above water in the wetlands of sub-tropical regions of Bangladesh. As a result, farmers are benefiting as well as establishing an effective alternative initiative to deal with adverse climate reactions. And for creating a unique precedent by cultivating vegetables in floating gardens on water, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has declared the country’s Nazirpur area as part of the world agricultural heritage.
But since two years these floating vegetable garden crops are being attacked by virus and also due to the increase in rat infestation, the crop loss is widespread. Apart from this, the salt water of the Bay of Bengal has entered these wetlands, which has adversely affected the production of good quality crops in the floating gardens. As a result, the farmers are suffering financially as the production of vegetables is reduced.
Pirojpur is one of the most affected districts of the coastal region of Bangladesh due to adverse effects of climate change. Deulbari Dobra and Kalar Doa Unions of Nazirpur Upazila of Pirojpur District have become waterlogged due to the increase in the water level of the Bay of Bengal. But the farmers of these low-lying areas have revolutionised agriculture by producing plants and vegetables using floating methods. 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. Farmers of this area have built floating vegetable gardens and seed beds on the water to combat the hostile environment due to climate change.
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.]
He added that farmers mainly grow vegetables or spices on floating beds to avoid waterlogging, especially due to the creation of waterlogged, rising sea levels. After discovering the step farming method in the wetlands of Bil Dumuria, farmers are smiling again. They are now living comfortably by floating farming.
Abdur Rashid Bapary, an old farmer Bil Dumuria said that earlier there was a good harvest. Now we are affected by disease and crop production is affected.
He also said that in the floating gardens on the water, farmers grow cucumbers, radishes, red vegetables and data vegetables during the monsoon season. And in winter they cultivate gourds, beans, brinjals, barbati, bitter gourds, papayas, tomatoes, cucumbers, kadma, puishak, sweet pumpkins, winter melon and other vegetables and spices.
Abdul Mazid, another old farmer Bil Dumuria said that in winter, there are vegetables. Gourd greens, pumpkin greens, red greens are cultivated. Also happens in winter. These are not cultivated during the rainy season. Turnips now thrive in mild winters. Vegetables are cultivated during the rainy season. Cucumbers are grown on water. The best crops grown are turnip and cucumber.]
Bilkis Khatun, a woman farmer Interview said that gourds, cucumbers, and peppers are cultivated. Cultivation of kachu, banana during the rainy season are shown here.
7,000 farmers were happily cultivating various types of vegetables in two hundred hectares of wetlands of Deulbari Dobra and Kolardoa Union of Nazirpur Upazila. But a couple of years ago, this happiness was forbidden by an unknown virus. Vegetables in floating gardens die prematurely or become stunted due to this virus. As a result, the farmers are severely affected by not getting the desired crop.
Another veteran farmer Moyen Uddin said that cultivation is affected by the disease in which it has emerged. For example: gourd, cucumber. We gave many medicines. Gave and stocked up on many suggestions. But nothing works.
Obaidul Haque, most old farmer added that the virus attacked the banana plant at a certain time. By the time the pumpkin blossoms, the virus has arrived and all the plants have died.
He added that farmers also say that they are not able to protect the vegetables of these floating gardens even by using different types of pesticides. The farmers complained that the officials of the agriculture department also failed to give proper advice in this regard.
When asked to Dig Vijay Hazra, Agriculture Officer of Nazirpur Upazila, what farmers say is not a virus. It is a lack of balanced fertiliser. You can see that the same crop is cultivated again and again in the same land. Especially spicy vegetables like cucumber. Marma is cultivated only in this part of Bangladesh. We have prescribed cucumber production and use of balanced fertilisers.
When asked about the same from Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension Abu Hena Mohammad Zafar, he said that the virus, the farmers are talking about is not a virus. It may be due to any shortage of food ingredients. However, it is still being researched. We will get some new information from the laboratory. If it’s a virus type thing then the solution will come.
The rat infestation started at the same time as the floating garden collapsed due to an unknown virus attack. Almost every floating garden in this area is infested with rats causing massive crop losses.
Mr. Obaidul Haque also said that I have taken some measures to prevent the rat infestation, but nothing works. These rats cut trees, eat potatoes, and eat pumpkins. Cut the gourds and they fall from the tree.
The farmers complained that they approached the officials of the agriculture department to prevent the rat infestation, but they did not get any results.
In this regard, Dig Vijay Hazra, Agriculture Officer of Nazirpur Upazila said -There is a bit of a rat infestation. We have asked the farmer brothers to adopt an integrated approach for rat control. We have also talked about using traps to control rats.
Abu Hena Mohammad Zafar, Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension, Pirojpur added that to reduce the rat infestation, they have to take joint action. Rat traps should be used. Owls, snakes, these rat-eating animals should be reared and used to kill rats. They can control rats by buying bait and using traps. Farmers have to determine strategies by themselves. Here the government or any government official will not go there and tell the strategy. They have to take care of it themselves.
Most of the farmers here said that during the flood a couple of years ago, salty water entered the wetlands of Deulbari Dobra and Kolardoa Union of Nazirpur Upazila. As a result, the production of vegetables in floating gardens has decreased. And the farmers are facing serious losses due to reduced crop production.
As an alternative to agricultural land in the wetlands of Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur district, the floating cultivation method in the wetlands has not only created a revolution in the agricultural sector, but has also received a good 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 is recognized as an agricultural heritage zone.
Floating agriculture has become popular as an alternative to the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture. But farmers engaged in floating gardens in this area are suffering due to unknown virus attacking, rat infestation and salinity in the water. The government’s agriculture department and agricultural researchers have to find a solution to solve this problem very quickly. Otherwise, floating farming on water as a part of the world agricultural heritage may lead to disaster, said local journalists.
G M Mourtoza, [email protected]
Head of News and Multimedia, Radio Padma 99.2 FM and PadmaNews24.com
