This ancient farming technique brings hope to flood-hit areas

In the Nazirpur subdistrict, located in Bangladesh's riverine district of Pirojpur, 45-year-old farmer Mohammad Kawsar Mia has been using a technique inherited through generations to combat the detrimental consequences of waterlogging. Over the past 25 years, Mia, following the traditions of his ancestors, has practiced "floating cultivation," a method that has come to be regarded as highly valuable for numerous families in these waterlogged regions.

In these areas where inundation lasts for eight to ten months annually, conventional farming on solid ground is nearly impossible. In response, farmers, such as Mia, have crafted floating rafts or cultivation beds using water hyacinths, water lettuce, algae and other aquatic plants.

These floating beds allow them to grow a variety of crops, such as papaya, gourd, pumpkin, brinjal (eggplant), bitter gourd, snake gourd, tomato, cucumber and leafy vegetables.

The floating rafts, which can adjust to water levels, typically measure around six metres in length and one meter in width. Constructing each raft takes roughly two months, with replacements are required every three to four months.

This year, Kawsar Mia is cultivating crops on 20 floating rafts, each costing approximately 7,000 to 8,000 BDT (about USD 63 to 73). Each raft can yield approximately 1,000 seedlings per batch, and can be used for making four batches in total. These seedlings can be sold for 5-7 BDT (USD 0.045 - 0.064) each, which provides a source of income for farmers like Mia.

Kawsar Mia shared his thoughts on the ancient farming technique, telling FairPlanet, "We do floating cultivation in these waterlogged lands hoping to make some profit. The ancient farming technique is helping us earn a living and alleviate the poverty of our family."

This cultivation method is passed down from one generation to the next without interruption.

In 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognised floating vegetable farming as a globally important agricultural heritage system.  

Arun Kumar Roy, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Pirojpur, emphasised the historical significance of this farming technique. "This 200-year-old traditional farming method was developed by the local farmers as a means of survival. Today, this technique is being implemented on about 200 acres of land in these two subdistricts, Nazirpur and Nesharabad of Pirojpur," he told FairPlanet. "The Department of Agricultural Extension supplies modernised seeds to the market  for this traditional farming method."

Highly vulnerable to climate change, Bangladesh is grappling with rising water levels caused by storms, floods and river erosion. With increasingly erratic monsoons, floating agriculture has been gaining importance and popularity in the country.

During the monsoon season, 75 per cent of the country's surface area is flooded, which makes techniques like floating cultivation crucial for achieving food security.

Women at the helm

Notably, women play a significant role in floating cultivation. They create seed balls by twisting water lettuce and duckweed together, placing germinating seeds in the centre. The seeds typically sprout in five to seven days, after which they are transferred to the rafts. Local women reportedly can make around 1,000 seed balls in seven to eight hours, while handling household responsibilities.

Khaleda Begum, 30, has been working as a full-time seed ball maker for the last 17 years, rolling around 1,000 balls per day to make ends meet. But performing this intensive labour comes at a cost.

"I regularly suffer from skin problems like rashes, fungal infections and allergies as a result of my work," she told FairPlanet. "When I come into contact with salt, pepper powders, detergent or ashes, it feels like my skin is burning. Sometimes, I use alum to reduce the infection and pain.

"Additionally, I suffer from severe back pain. But if I don't work, I won't be able to afford my next meal."

Dire health impacts

Both men and women involved in this innovative method face health risks due to prolonged exposure to mud, water, dirt, water hyacinth and algae, which often leads to various skin diseases, particularly on their hands and feet. The conditions can become debilitating and impact their daily lives.

Mohammad Yasir Sutar, a 38-year-old farmer, told FairPlanet, "Four to five years ago, my hand wasn't as bad as it is now. In the early days, the pain had decreased on its own over time. I didn't feel the pain that much and could tolerate it. Day by day, my skin gets infected, itches and the skin around my nails on my hands and feet become rotten."

He added, "As a result, it hurts to eat by hand. So, I have to apply Savlon to alleviate itching and take painkillers to manage the pain."

Dr Nizam Uddin, a resident medical officer at Pirojpur District Hospital, told FairPlanet that "If [farmers] carry such a skin diseases for a long time, their ability to work and lifespan may gradually decrease. Since these diseases are contagious, they can be passed from mother to child or from one family member to another.

"We can call these skin issues occupational hazards. Wearing gloves and boots during work, clean clothes and conscious living can reduce the spread of these diseases."

Dr Uddin also emphasised that taking a break from work for five to seven days during treatment can lead to faster healing. 

However, as noted by farmer Mohammad Yasir Sutar, truncating the work-week is not an option for many locals. "If we do not work for 5-7 days, what will we eat?"

Image by Piyas Biswas.