1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

Context specific environmentally friendly technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Floating Garden is a traditional technology, practiced in the southern parts of Bangladesh locally called “Baira” or “Dhap”. The technology allows producing crops, vegetables and seedlings in areas where farming land is scarce and where the land is flodded or water logged for more than six months in a year.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Floating gardensa are a traditional practice in south central districts of Bangladesh since long time, and has been promoted by government extension agency and development organizations in different parts of the country with technical improvements. With this technology, crops (mainly vegetables) are cultivated on floating garden beds in areas where the land inundated for more than six months in a year.
Establishment:
The basic input and main raw material to prepare the floating garden bed are water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes). In some cases bamboo sticks are also used to make the floating beds more resistant. The floating gardens are of different size, with a standard size per bed during preparation of 1.5 - 1.8 meter wide, 10 -11 meter long and 1 - 1.3 meter above water level. However, considering local context- such as wave action, size of water body, presence of a wetland - the bed size may vary, also depending on whether compost is added on the top. The establishment of the floating gardens are very cheap in terms of raw material and require mainly human manual labour for its establishment, without material costs for maintenance.
The garden can be used for two purposes: for vegetable production and for vegetable seedling production.
In water logged areas (where water remains for the whole year) floating beds are mainly used for vegetable production. Almost any type of vegetables can be grown in the floating bed. Production of leafy vegetables proofed to be most profitable. In addition, all types of vegetable seedlings and rice seedlings can produced in floating garden based on demand. In other areas, which are only inundated temporarily, floating garden can be used for both vegetable and seedling production. In this second case seedlings can be transfered from the garden to the fields on the main land immediately after receding of the water. This practice can save 2 to 3 weeks time of vegetable or rice production in winter season. This is a crucial advantage considering the trend to shorter growing periods due to unpredictable early spring rains.
A key advantage of floating gardening is the fact that heavy rainfalls usually do not have any negative effect on culture of the floating gardens, which are a highly effective and beneficial risk reduction and climate change mitigation technology. Floating gardens can further contribute to food security and improved nutrition for poor households, and it is a source for additional income by making use of cheap and abundant local input resources. Different NGOs improved and promoted this technology in north-west and north-east parts of Bangladesh since 2000. Since 2011 also the public agricultural extension agencies promote this technology.
As an overall goal this technology aims at protecting people’s assets for agricultural production from damages due to seasonal floods and provide options for alternative income resources. The floating garden technology is designed as measure to protect effectively from yearly floods. It might not be robust enough for extreme events with heavy storms and waves. Smaller repairing can be done by the owners themselves. In case of major damages the beds can be replaced by new ones, since the investment costs are very low. In the shallow areas the floating beds may become ordinary garden beds or fields during dry season.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was first piloted through implementation of “Livelihoods, Empowerment and Agroforestry (LEAF)” project. Later on, the technology was expanded through implementation of “Agricultural Innovation for Eliminating Extreme Poverty” (AIEEP 2009-2012) and through Unnoti -Prosperity in Haor project (2013-2016).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

• improve household food security / nutrition

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Comments:

earlier these wetland areas were mainly fallow (not used for any productive purpose). During monsoon season, the waterbodies naturally count on fish reserves, which are captures by local farmers including landless poor. Water hyacinth of these wetlands were partially used as fodder, though most of it was decomposed naturally without use.

3.4 Water supply

other (e.g. post-flooding):

• post-flooding

Comments:

Floating gardens are prepared on the water body, hence can absorb sufficient water without additional irrigation.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• wetland protection/ management
• home gardens

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

floating beds, which are adapted to changing water levels (floods).
change of land/water management from pure wetlands to gardens.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

More frequent and severe seasonal floodings

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation
• adapt to land degradation

Comments:

The technology is used to adapt to natural seasonal flooding, to prevent damages caused by floods by using wet lands for crop production.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

BDT

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Bed preparation (by hired labour)	August-September
2.	Seeding, care and maintenance, harvesting	September-March

Comments:

After full harvesting of vegetable in March, the bed (decomposed water hyacinth) can be used as organic compost for other crops in cultivable land.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Hired labour cost for bed establishment	persons day	10.0	300.0	3000.0
Labour	Bed management cost (seeing, care, harvest ect.)	persons day	90.0	300.0	27000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds per year	kg	25.0	100.0	2500.0	100.0
Construction material	Bamboo	bamboo quantity	2.0	100.0	200.0
Construction material	Rope and lubricants	lumpsum	1.0	250.0	250.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					32950.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					32950.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

No maintenance required

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

No specific maintenance costs during the year/season required. Small repairments are part of the labour costs of agronomic mesures to be done in paralele with care work.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

In case the inputs, mainly water hyacinths, are not available at the selected sites, this increases the material and/or labour costs for hyacinths to be transported from distant locations.
All indicated costs refer to yearly costs, since the beds ususally have to be restablished every year.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Not applicable for this technology as floating bed prepare on surface of water body

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

frequently

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Each year seasonal monsoon flooding. However, early flash (pre monsoon flood) occur only every 3 years.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Water bodies are rich with diverse aquatic organisms

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Comments:

The farmers establish floating gardens in public water body and in private water body (with verbal agreement of water body owners).

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

No specific research have been made on off-site and environmental impact of the floating garden technology.

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	well
flash flood	very well

Other climate-related extremes (disasters)

other (specify)	How does the Technology cope with it?
increasingly unpredictable start and duration of monsoon/rainy season, floods	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	well

Comments:

with the effect of climate change monsoon have become more impredictable: starting sooner, ending later.
The techology allows to plant and grow seedlings already before the end of rainy season, and can therefor mantain or even extend the growing period.

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Considering only one season - particualrly for intensive raining seasons - the gardens have positive benefits.
Considering a longer time period with less intensive rainy seasons, the fact that the bed ususally have to be reestablished every year might require an important work from a land user's perspective (therefore rate with slightly less benefits)

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

about 1000

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 11-50%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
In the Haor area’ (local wetland ecosystem flooded during monsoon season) water hyacinths are naturally abundant. These are the basis and substrate for floating gardens. Hence, the technology makes use of local plants as resorces, as substrate of the floating garden. If required, floating bed can easily moved from one location to another. After preparation of the bed, no additional hard labour is required.
There is hardly pest infestation, therefore no use of pesticides is required.
After final harvest, the beds are used as organic compost for the fields. Further, the farmers either can sell or use the substrate of the garden as compost.
This simple technology and can easily be replicated.
During heavy rainfalls and storms, the crop are not damaged by floods since on a floating surface.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Through this technology, crops can be produced on the water surface. The usually abundant water hyacinth are used as a productive resource, which increases the surface for crop production. In contexts, such as Bangladesh, where land resources are scarce this opens production options in public/abundant water bodies for landless farmers, who can earn money within a short period and with little investment.
The production for home consumption improves nutrition, contributes to food security and surplus is sold at the market, which contribute to the income of poor households. The technology is useful for increasing production for home consumption and market.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
In some cases there are water leeches available in the water body. Therefore, people become afraid of preparing floating beds.	People polish diesel/kerosene oil in their body before preparation of floating beds to protect them from attack of leeches.
In some cases, water hyacinths are not available locally, consequently farmers face difficulties to prepare floating beds in distant places. Further challenges are the guarding/security of the gardens, the time consuming establishment of the beds.	Introduce and prepare floating gardens by supporting whole groups instead of individual famers.
Wave action and local streams may drift away the floating beds	Use bamboo pole to fix floating beds and prevent that they are floating away.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Non-availability of adequate quantity of water hyacinth in same place every year.	Prepare bed in the places where water hyacinth are available and then move the beds in to the desired locations.
Due to heavy wave action or heavy water flow, floating beds could be broken/destroyed.	Prepare small size beds.
Lack of awareness and willingness of farmers to practice this technology.	Organise meeting, training, demonstration, and learning visit.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

A learning documentary on Floating Vegetable Garden, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, March-2012, ISBN: 978-984-33-5313-9

Available from where? Costs?

https://youtu.be/AK_qTm2pUsw

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Innovative Vegetable Cultivation, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, 2012

Available from where? Costs?

https://youtu.be/lhiraDjPymU

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Piloting Schemes Systematic Integration of DRR in LEAF - December 2010

Available from where? Costs?

https://assets.helvetas.org/downloads/drr_capex.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

A learning documentary on Floating Vegetable Garden, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, March-2012, ISBN: 978-984-33-5313-9

URL:

https://youtu.be/AK_qTm2pUsw

Title/ description:

Innovative Vegetable Cultivation, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, 2012

URL:

https://youtu.be/lhiraDjPymU

Title/ description:

Islam and Atkins, 2007. Indigenous floating cultivation: a sustainable agricultural practice in the wetlands of Bangladesh. Development in Practice 17:130-136.

URL:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/25548185?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Title/ description:

Irfanullah et al., 2008. Introduction of floating gardening in the northeastern wetlands of Bangladesh for nutritional security and sustainable livelihood. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 23:89-96

URL:

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/11064/1/IJTK%2010(1)%2031-38.pdf

Title/ description:

Irfanullah et al., 2011. Floating gardening in Bangladesh: a means to rebuild lives after devastating flood. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 10:31-38.

URL:

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/11064/1/IJTK%2010(1)%2031-38.pdf

Title/ description:

Irfanullah, 2013. Floating Gardening: a local lad becoming a climate celebrity? Clean Slate 88:26-27.

URL:

http://floodresilience.net/solutions/item/floating-gardening-a-local-lad-becoming-a-climate-celebrity