Large parts of Bangladesh lie more than two meters below mean sea level, making them highly vulnerable to tidal surges, seasonal flooding, and prolonged waterlogging. As climate change intensifies, these challenges are expected to become more severe, threatening the livelihoods of millions of farmers. In coastal and flood-prone areas, communities are already experiencing declining crop yields and increasing food insecurity, jeopardizing their ability to sustain themselves.
In response to these challenges, farmers in coastal Bangladesh have revived and refined an age-old agricultural practice known as baira cultivation, or floating gardens. Using locally available materials such as water hyacinths and other native aquatic plants, they construct floating beds to grow vegetables and crops without the need for soil. This innovative practice has emerged as a powerful climate adaptation strategy, allowing communities to secure food, income, and nutrition despite recurrent floods and waterlogging. These floating gardens also help the coastal flood-prone population adapt to the changing environment, which is increasingly influenced by rising sea levels.
Baira cultivation has been practiced for generations in some low-lying villages of Bangladesh, allowing farmers to grow crops on floating beds made from water hyacinths and other aquatic plants. These soil-less rafts act as a natural platform for cultivating vegetables which provide food security for locals during periods of prolonged flooding. Over time, the decomposing plant matter also enriches the water with nutrients, supporting local biodiversity and creating natural compost for future crops.
During periods of prolonged flooding and waterlogging, traditional field crops often fail, leaving farming families without food or income. However, crops grown on baira can withstand these challenging conditions. Recognizing the potential of this age-old practice, agricultural experts from large NGOs like the IUCN, and other development partners, collaborated closely with local communities to enhance baira cultivation through scientific and technical improvements. These partnerships have led to the development of stronger, longer-lasting floating beds, the introduction of diversified vegetable crops, and the adoption of crop rotation techniques, increasing both productivity and resilience.
Today, baira cultivation has expanded across hundreds of project villages, providing a critical lifeline for communities vulnerable to climate change. By adapting traditional knowledge with modern techniques, these farmers have transformed their landscapes into thriving floating farms - securing food, income, and hope in the face of growing climate uncertainty.
This photo essay aims not only to document the hardships faced by these communities but, most importantly, to showcase their remarkable resilience and capacity for adaptation in an increasingly volatile climate.