The women behind Pirojpur’s floating agriculture

Local women in Pirojpur’s wetland areas play a vital role in floating agriculture that is recognised by Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

The unique system, locally known as ‘dhap’, is being practised for over three centuries in flood-prone areas of Nazirpur and Nesarabad upazilas under Pirojpur and Banaripara upazila under Barishal where water remains for a prolonged period of time.  

Many farmers there grow vegetables while others grow vegetable seedlings all throughout the year on floating beds that are primarily made from water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds. Up to 2,000 plants can be grown on each floating bed that can be used for at least five times in a year.  

vegetables grow in a floating bed at Balodia village in Pirojpur’s Nesarabad upazila. Photo: Star

While men mostly work on the floating beds, other members of their family, especially women, take part in making spherical objects in which seeds are sown or seedlings are planted.

After finishing household chores, the women gather around a spot and use various aquatic weeds to roll up the objects they call ‘doulla’.

“Before setting the doullas on the floating beds, we [women] sow seeds or plant saplings in those,” said Nasrin Begum from Mugarjhor village in Nazirpur upazila. 

Sultana from the same area said, “Time flies by while we make doullas and chitchat till dusk.”

After seeds are planted, the doulas are kept in an area for at least two days for sprouting, said Hafiza Begum, another woman from the same village.

The women said they can make nearly two thousand doullas a day and some of them are even getting paid for making doullas. “The money comes in handy for my family’s needs,” said Nurjahan from Balodia village in Pirojpur’s Nesarabad upazila.

In some cases, saplings are planted in the doullas. After the seedlings or saplings are ready, men transport the doullas in boats and place those on floating beds. 

Farmer Zakir Hossain said the role of women in floating agriculture is an important one as their contribution eases workload of men.