In pictures.. Bangladesh's floating farms

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Because of the constant floods in the country, and the lack of dry agricultural land during the rainy season, the farmers of Bangladesh in the center of the country resorted to an old traditional method that was used nearly 300 to 400 years ago and is known as floating farming, where they use artificial islands that resemble beds made from the stems of rice and other trees These flats simply rise and fall as the water level falls.

Now farmers are reviving this ancient practice to circumvent the environmental factors caused by climate change.

Many farmers in southwestern Bangladesh use floating rafts to grow vegetables during the monsoon season - when dry land is scarce - to ensure food security in a country that recently suffered prolonged floods and waterlogged its lands as a result of climate change.

This type of soilless farming is also found in different parts of the world, such as Dal Lake in Kashmir and Inle Lake in Myanmar.

This type of agriculture helps the people adapt to the flooded lands.

In December 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared Bangladesh Floating Gardens a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.

This agriculture reflects a landscape that combines agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems and cultural heritage.

The seedlings are grown indoors and a week later, when they are about 15 cm high, they are moved and planted in these floating supports.

Traditionally, the seeds of leafy greens are planted directly on the floating beds, then fixed to bamboo poles so that they do not get carried away by the currents.

The best places for these floating parks are standing water protected from waves and tides in canals, rivers, and lakes.

The women prepare the delicate seedling balls, and the men arrange and plant the beds.

Most organic layers do not need any fertilizers, as plants can absorb nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous from the organic matter in these plant beds and the water below them.