A total of 8,500 hectares of land of Nabinagar Upazila in Brahmanbaria remain inundated during the monsoon. To make floating agriculture technique popular, Upazila Agriculture Office implemented pilot demonstration activities at four locations in Nabinagar upazila under Flood Reconstruction Emergency Assistance Project.
Upazila Agriculture Office sources said the it was implemented for the first time at Bashbazar, Salimganj, Nabinagar under Ibrahimpur union of Nabinagar Upazila.
Ismail, a farmer of Ibrahimpur, said we have seen such floating agriculture on television. With the help of Upazila Agriculture Office, I have implanted this. I have sold vegetables of Tk 20,000 so far. The production of crops is very good. There is less disease. Hopefully, many people will adopt this technology in future.
Tipu Munshi, a farmer of Bogdohor village, said growing vegetables in Haor during monsoon is like dream for us.
Faruk, a farmer of Konikara village under Shibpor union, said we have seen farming on such floating system in several agriculture reports. I have implemented this with the help of agriculture office. I have sold vegetables of Tk 25,000 so far.
Farid Khandaker, a farmer of Rosulabad village, it is like dream for us that vegetables would grow in Haor in this season. A lot of publicity from Agriculture department is needed to do more and more floating agriculture. I am growing vegetable in this method on 20 decimal of land.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Giasuddin Naim said these lands remain under water for five to six months in a year. Gourd, cucumber, collard greens and spinach have so far grown in this method. Interest among farmers is being increased.
Upazila Agriculture Officer agriculturist Jahangir Alam Liton said more than two hundred farmers were trained to teach floating farming techniques to farmers. The farmers are being helped by providing floating structures, seeds and fertilizer. The technology has already been recognized as a safe agricultural production technology. This technology has great possibility for vegetable cultivation in this region in future. Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension along with local farmers are working to spread this technique of floating farming. It will play role in food safety and vegetable production. This is low-lying area which remains under water for six months in a year.
