Floating Cultivation an indigenous technology for adapting to water logging situation towards sustainable livelihood security in the low lying areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

The southern, southwestern and the coastal areas of Bangladesh remain submerged for long periods every year, especially during the monsoon season. People in these areas have been coping with submerged/flooded conditions for generations. The people of these areas depend on agriculture. They have adopted a method of cultivation, locally referred to as "Vasoman Chash," meaning floating agriculture, since the time of their forefather's. This system is similar to hydroponics, which is a scientific method whereby the plants are grown in the water and they derive their nutrients from the water instead of from the soil. The production rate is high from this kind of agricultural practice. Floating agriculture is a possible local knowledge based technology which would help in attaining sustainable livelihood security in the vulnerable areas like waterlogged areas in Bangladesh.