Bangladesh builds floating gardens to fight climate change

Bangladesh’s farmers are particularly affected by climate change as more and more farmlands get flooded. Farmers in the affected regions have started creating floating gardens with organic material where vegetables can be grown.

Farmers create floating rafts on floodwater using water hyacinth, bamboo, cow dung, dirt, soil and other composts. Such rafts shift their position along with the water level and remain afloat for a period long enough to grow vegetables.

Farmers cultivate summer and winter vegetables such as gourd and okra as well as other leafy vegetables on their floating gardens. The method is cheap and sustainable, according to the country's agriculture experts.

Not only do farmers cultivate vegetables on the floating farms, ‘boat schools’ provide primary education to children during the rains in Bangladesh, when half the country is under water. Such boat schools have been in operation for almost a decade, especially in the northern part of the country.

Boat schools are equipped with computers that have an internet connection. Local non-government organizations offer solar lamps to students for home use in areas without electricity.

A gypsy folk of snake charmers known as ‘Bedey’ have always lived on boats in Bangladesh. They travel from place to place following the river routes. The tradition is on the decline but might make a comeback as a method of adapting to climate change.

Experts consider initiatives like floating gardens and boat schools as small solutions to a big problem. 20 million people will be displaced in Bangladesh in the coming five years, according to IPCC. Some islands are at the risk of disappearing completely under the rising seawaters. Therefore, the country needs a strategy to combat as well as to cope with climate change.