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Floating Garden Agricultural Practices in Bangladesh: A Proposal for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Year of publication 2017

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 18 p.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) . Floating gardens are age-old practice of crop cultivation in the Southern floodplains of Bangladesh (Barisal, Goplaganj and Pirojpur districts). Floating garden agricultural practices (locally known as Dhap) for growing vegetables and spices prevail in the wetlands of the south central coastal districts of Bangladesh since immemorial times. With the use of available water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and other aquatic weeds, local communities have developed a technique to construct reasona bly-sized floating platforms or raft on which vegetables and other crops can be cultivated. The unique hydroponics production system was developed in the hands of the locals by using their traditional knowledge for agricultural practice and livelihood. The production system is the major livelihood option for about 60-90% of the locals. Bio-diverse vegetables and spices crops are grown sustainably over the years on floating substrata made mainly of water hyacinth and other minor aquatic weeds on flooded water. The land with the water is used for production of fish in the open water and crops on the floating beds.

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