Food

Floating-Garden Vegetables

ভাসমান বেডের সবজি

Vegetables grown organically on floating rafts of water hyacinth in Nazirpur's wetlands, a practice FAO recognises as world agricultural heritage.

Photo: Azimronnie · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In Nazirpur's low beels, which stay flooded for months, farmers pile water hyacinth and weeds into floating beds and grow vegetables and seedlings on them without chemical fertiliser. The practice is said to be about two centuries old and has been recognised by the UN's FAO. Twice a week farmers bring the produce by boat to the floating market on the Beluya river beside Baithakata bazar.