Floating gardens
Practical Action
early development is to create round balls of compost comprising of decomposed water
hyacinth and an organic fertilizer known locally as Tema. A couple of seeds are planted into
each ball and kept in a shaded area while germination takes place. Once the seedlings have
begun to grow they can be planted out onto the raft.
Although rafts don’t last indefinitely they can be reused, and hauled to a shadier or sunnier
spot or on to a more protected canal to optimise the growing conditions.
Crops that can be produced include Kang Kong (leafy vegetables), okra (lady's finger), gourd,
brinjal (aubergine), pumpkin, and onions. Eventually the raft will decay and cannot be used
any longer. The rafts are then broken up and used as compost, usually at the end of the
growing season and a new raft is prepared for the next crop.
Ducks, rats and other animals are attracted to
the crops on the raft and may need some form
of protection. Fencing can be set up around
the perimeter of the raft using whatever
materials are available. Broken fishing nets or
sticks can be effective barriers.
Using a floating Garden
The gardens should not be used on areas of
water that are affected by tides or currents
where they would be vulnerable to erosion and
at risk of disintegrating. Flooded land or small
ponds can be used. The floating gardens are
kept in position by tethering them to poles.
Figure 5: Protecting the crop from
predators with a fence made from sticks.
Harvesting
Photo credit: Practical Action Bangladesh.
In some circumstances the raft can be
accessed on foot, or by using a raft or boat if the garden is in deeper water.
The rafts can be used for summer and winter crops. Vegetables are harvested two or three
time a week or when there is particularly high demand. The produce is sold either through
direct selling in the local market or through an intermediary whole seller.
What it has meant to Tara Begum
Tara Begum and her family are not affected by monga (famine-like situation). Once destitute,
they have changed their lot by raising floating vegetable gardens on the Brahmaputra waters.
Figure 6: Tare Begum - “This has made a great
difference to my life. Now I have enough food in the
floods and I can give some to help my relatives as
well”. Photo credit: Practical Action Bangladesh.
Tara lives with her husband and
son in a small compound in
Shingria, 15km from Gaibandha
town. She has been displaced by
the river erosion seven times, and
now lives on the government flood
embankment. The family own 0.2
acres of land (approximately
800m2), but this is very sandy and
infertile so Tara struggles to grow
food during the dry season, and
during the monsoons her land is
covered by water.
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