In the south, including Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi and Gopalganj, much land stays waterlogged for more than half the year. To survive on land trapped under water year after year, people began floating agriculture about two hundred years ago. Once a hardship for farmers, it has become a promising farming system.

From above, the beds look like long green carpets. Growing crops on floating layers made of water hyacinth and other aquatic plants is called floating agriculture. According to the local agriculture department, crops are grown this way on about 200 hectares in Pirojpur district alone, and hundreds of farmers make a living growing diverse crops and vegetable seedlings.

This centuries-old natural practice is moving towards fertiliser and pesticide use to raise output, and it is also affected by the changing global climate. At the same time, recognition by the United Nations as a globally important agricultural heritage system and wide media coverage have created many opportunities. To keep this ancient tradition productive, easier farm credit and better government planning are needed.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.