PUMPKIN GROWING USING SANDBAR This brief describes a way of growing crops on the sandbars, created by river deposits in Bangladesh, can be done to increase crop production for marginalized farmers. Introduction Every year millions of people are affected by sudden shifts in river courses that destroy their crops, farms and homesteads. The sandbars that emerge each year as the rivers recede are not stable enough to support natural vegetative growth and remain as barren sand until the rivers rise again. These sandbars can be made productive by growing pumpkins and other crops using the pit cultivation approach (by digging small pits and lining these pits with compost). Accessing these sandbars for cropping can help landless families diversify their incomes, help them overcome seasonal food shortages and facilitate a process of asset building alongside reducing the risks which threaten their livelihoods. What is sandbar cropping? The areas, which are vulnerable to erosion, consist of the
These types of gardens are useful to grow crops in wetlands, waterlogged areas and difficult soils for growing crops. This is very suitable for areas which are constantly affected with floods, rains and low level areas where water gets stagnant. As a traditional agricultural practice, floating garden is often associated with specific indigenous communities who gave these floating bodies different names; ‘radh’ in Kashmir, India, ‘pontha’ in southeast of India, ‘kaing’ in Myanmar, ‘chinampas’ in Mexico and ‘ dhap’ or ‘ baira’ in Bangladesh. Materials required for making floating gardens. Floating Bed Seedling preparation Floating Bed: Any plant residues like paddy or weeds are used in preparing floating beds. Many areas' water hyacinth plants are invasive and available in abundance, Which is a potential source for making floating beds. Collect those available materials and make 2-4 layers at 8-10 days of interval. The very first layer gives stability and becomes the base for this ra