During the monsoon season, much of the farm land in the Gaibandha district is covered by water making it impossible to grow crops. Practical Action has developed a new technology to allow families to grow food when their lands are flooded.

Tara Begum (42 years old) lives with her husband and son in a small compound in Shingria, 15km from Gaibandha town.  She has been displaced by the river erosion 7 times, and now lives on the government flood embankment. The family own 20 decimals of land, but this is very sandy and infertile so Tara struggles to grow food during the dry season, and during the monsoons her land is covered by water. During the monsoon, Tara could only provide one meal a day for her family, and they would always go hungry.

In June 2005, Practical Action provided Tara with training on vegetable production, and alongside a local NGO partner (GUK) showed her how to make a floating vegetable garden. Her family collected water hyacinth and used this to build a simple floating raft. This is covered with soil and some cow dung, and is then ready to use - costing only T500 to build. During the last monsoon, Tara was able to grow red onions, Kang Kong (leafy vegetable), okra and sweet pumpkin. She also grew seedlings for gourd, which she transplanted once the flood had died down.  During the last flood, Tara had enough food for her family. She even managed to sell the extra vegetables that she produced, and so far has made a total of T4000 since her training. There is little food in the markets during the monsoon as few people can grow crops, so her vegetables are in great demand. And by cultivating seedlings in the floating garden, she was able to plant them earlier in the year and therefore get a better harvest. After the end of the monsoon season, Tara used the old raft as compost to grow crops in the dry season.

Tara said: “This has made a great difference to my life – now I have enough food in the floods, and can give some to help my relatives as well.”

 The floating vegetable garden is a new initiative by Practical Action. Tara was the only person in the village who received this training, but following its success, Tara’s neighbours are copying the idea and making their own floating gardens. Eleven other women in the Gaibandha district have received training so far, but Practical Action is planning to expand this project in the future.