Economic Viability and Livelihood Effect of Floating Vegetable Farming: Evidence from Waterlogged Areas of Southern Bangladesh

Economic viability and livelihood effect of FVF in waterlogged areas

Abstract

Climate change is a major concern for agricultural and rural development, which results in flooding and prolonged waterlogging in southern Bangladesh. To deal with it, Floating Vegetable Farming (FVF) has emerged as a unique, indigenous, and climate-resilient farming practice that makes farming possible in waterlogged conditions. This study aims to investigate the economic viability and livelihood effects of FVF, identify the determinants of profitability, and explore the supply-chain dynamic of FVF, so that it can serve as evidence whether this innovative practice can be adopted widely. Using a cross-sectional household survey approach, the data were collected from 120 FVF farmers from Gopalgonj district using a structured questionnaire and utilizing a random sampling technique. The profitability was calculated using the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) analysis, while the determinants of profitability were identified through the Multiple Linear Regression Model (MLRM). Additionally, Impact Index (II) was utilized to assess the livelihood impact of FVF. The results reveal that FVF was highly profitable for the majority of the vegetables, having a BCR of greater than 1.90. Among the vegetable enterprises, cauliflower was the most profitable one and brinjal was the least profitable, having a BCR of 3.17 and 1.62, respectively. The functional analysis reveals that education, farming experience, and land size significantly determined profitability in waterlogged farming conditions. The practice substantially improved livelihood, as evidenced by improved household income (II = 95.83%) and increased women’s involvement in farming (II = 86.68%). These results confirm the economic viability of FVF, which has a strong impact on livelihood improvement. To ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of FVF, this study suggests increasing training exposure and institutional credit, and developing a market for the organically produced floating vegetables to scale up this practice in the waterlogged areas in the country.

Ann. Bangladesh Agric. 30(1): 147-166