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Cultivation in floating gardens
Summary:
The following case study is featured in the Meister Consultants Group study: *Floating Houses and Mosquito Nets: Emerging Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Around the World*.
Bangladesh is one of the countries that will be most affected by climate change. Two thirds of the country is located in low lying coastal wetlands less than five meters above sea level, so rising sea levels pose an especially serious threat. In the past, Bangladesh has frequently been hit by natural disasters, and climate change threatens to make such catastrophes even more common. Despite its financial constraints, the country is trying to prepare for these enormous threats as much as possible in order to minimize the number of potential victims and economic impacts. In this regard, Bangladesh’s case offers some best practices. For instance, in the event of an imminent flood the population is alerted through an early warning system that uses volunteers to alert people via megaphones as well as over the radio. Given the massive threats and its limited financial means, Bangladesh depends on international support for its measures to adapt to climate change.
_Source: Dr. Hans-Peter Meister, I. K., Martina Richwein, Wilson Rickerson, Chad Laurent. Additional contributors: Jeff Snell, Elisa Burchert, Florian Lux. (2009). *Floating Houses and Mosquito Nets: Emerging Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Around the World.* Boston: Meister Consultants Group. p. 21._
For more detailed information and references refer to: [Floating Houses - Full Report](http://files.mc-group.com/clst/Study%20Climate%20Change%20Adaption.pdf).
[Meister Consultants Group](http://www.mc-group.com/)
Adaptation Experience:
Bangladesh has the highest rate of wetlands worldwide. As a result, traditional cultivation methods must be modified. The cultivation of crops on floats (soil-less agriculture or hydroponics) represents a possible alternative to conventional cultivation approaches. This method has attracted much interest especially because of the increasing risk of floods. This cultivation method is not only highly productive, but it also uses local, easily accessible agricultural inputs, such as water hyacinth.
The floats consist of two layers. Normally, the lower layer consists of water hyacinths, while the upper layer is made of plants that decay rapidly and serve as fertilizer. The method is mainly used for the cultivation of okra, curcuma (i.e., ginger and turmeric), cucumbers, tomatoes, and potatoes. The floats can be used for two to three seasons. Afterwards they can serve as fertilizer.
Within the framework of the SHOUHARDO-Program (Strengthening Household Abilities for Responding to Development Opportunities) the NGO CARE Bangladesh implemented several pilot projects in three municipalities, with funding from the US development agency USAID.
Source: Hydroponics in Bangladesh. UNFCCC, database of local coping strategies http://maindb.unfccc.int/public/adaptation/adaptation_casestudy.pl?id_project=8 IUCN: http://www.iucnbd.org/projects/baira.html
Results and Learning:
Information not available yet.
Sustainability:
This practice is now receiving renewed interest as a potential solution for farmers whose lands have been waterlogged, and also for landless people. In addition to being highly productive, this system of cultivation makes use of local resources, in particular the masses of rapidly growing water hyacinths that choke the waterways. It is also an environmentally sustainable way to make use of wetland areas and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The main emphasis is on amplifying and strengthening the practices of communities that are trying to cope with the adverse impact of climate change.
Replication:
Information not available yet.
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