THE SCENARIO OF SEEDLING PRODUCTION ON FLOATING BEDS IN FEW SELECTED AREAS OF BANGLADESH

The study was conducted to reveal various seedling production scenario on floating beds including environmental aspects associating seedling production. Data of various seeding production were collected from total 50 households (HHs) of two villages at Nazirpur Upazila in Pirojpur district of Bangladesh by a pre-tested survey questionnaire. The study showed that 68% farmers did seedling production for business purpose, and 30% as both own and business. During floating cultivation on beds about 50% farmers used their own producing seed and 26% from market. The farmers cultivated 21 different types of vegetables and spices seedlings where highest number of seedling was Bottle gourd (19.11%) followed by Papaya (13.82%) and Chili (12.60%). They used urea as a common fertilizer on floating bed which enriched by TSP (46%) and DAP (40%) during cultivation. It was observed that 32% farmers did seedling cultivation solely as own source of money while 26% got the help from NGOs. After end of the cultivation, 25% beds were sold as compost fertilizer for winter cultivation, 5% were used as own field and 17% farmers utilized the fertilizer as both business and own purpose. The study also revealed that, about 64% of respondent farmers were not suffered by any environmental complications. Adopting modern agrotechnology and minimization of initial cost through subsidy can make this traditional Vasoman Chas has a sustainable agricultural practice.


INTRODUCTION
The people of Bangladesh depend upon agriculture and have being coping with these conditions for generations (Hossain, 2014). The farmers of southern districts (Barisal, Pirojpur, Gopalgonj, Shatkhira etc.) of Bangladesh invented an indigenous cultivation practice (Haqet al., 2004;Irfanullah, 2013), known as floating cultivation referred to "Vasoman Chash" (Haq et al., 2016) an age-old traditional practice continuing for centuries. These methods are widely used in Lake Inle in Myanmar, the Tonle Sap in Cambodia, and various fresh-water wetlands in Bangladesh (Islam and Atkins, 2007).
For seedling production both natural and artificial floating beds are used (Slide et al., 2007;John et al., 2009;Mushatq et al., 2013) for agriculture in many tropical wetlands of the world. Water hyacinth is the major ingredient of soilless cultivation (Irfanullah et al., 2008;Irfanullah, 2013) and it is collected from May to July from the nearby river, canals, ditches, lagoons and from the wetland where it grows profusely to make floating bed locally known as dhap. Sometimes farmer use aquatic semi-decomposed plants such as Topapana, Kutipana, Dulalilota, Indurkanipana and immature small water hyacinth etc. There are two widely used methods for seed germination, one is ball (guti, tema) method another is to spread seed directly on the bed.
The seedling production helps to control weeds and enrich soil organic nutrients in dry season, utilization of women labor, provides food and nutritional safety. However, heavy rain fall and flood may flash out or break the beds, non-availability of quality seeds, scarcity of matured water hyacinth, lack of other aquatic weeds, harms of predator (Irfanullah et al., 2011).
Several studies have been conducted on floating agriculture in different districts of Bangladesh, but limited findings found specially for seeding production on floating bed. Therefore, this study was performed to know the vegetable seedling production on floating beds in few selected areas of Bangladesh.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The survey work was performed in two villages at Nazirpur Upazila in Pirojpur district during October, 2017. The Nazirpur Upazila has an area of233.63 sq. km. The temperature ranges from minimum 19°C to maximum 29.9 o C, and annual rainfall 1975 mm. Nazirpur has an average literacy rate of 57.50%. Ownership of agricultural land classified as landowner 76.10% and landless 23.90%. The ecology of these villages of Nazirpur was almost same. Economy of Nazirpur was mostly based on farming and fishing. Most of the lands were lowland and marshy. Fishing wetlands for fishing were available in Mugarjhor and Manoharpur villages.
However, all the collected data from the survey of 50 households (HHs) from those two villages were checked, compiled and coded in MS Excel (Microsoft version 10, Redmond, USA). Qualitative data were converted into quantitative form by means of suitable scoring and then conducted analysis. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, USA).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Attributes, purpose and types of seedling production on floating beds The attributes, purpose and types of seedling production on floating beds of the surveyed areas are shown in Table 1 and Fig 1. About 9 days required to prepare a floating bed after purchase for seedling production with a cost 4000 Taka per bed. As individual cost about TK 261 and TK 249 were required for bamboo and land rent per season, respectively. Cost of seed, dulalilata, tupapana, bira, lata, fertilizer, pest It was observed that 68% farmers did seedling production as business purpose, and 30% as both own and business (Fig. 2).

Investment source of seedling production and return from floating beds
The findings revealed that 32% farmers did seedling cultivation solely as own source of money while 26% got the help from NGOs (Fig.5a). During floating cultivation on beds about 50% farmers used their own producing seed and 26% from market (Fig. 5b). Urea was a common fertilizer used on floating bed which enriched by TSP (46%) and DAP (40%) during cultivation (Fig.6). At the end of floating cultivation, the floating bed usually used as compost fertilizer. By this study, it was observed that 50% beds were sold by as compost fertilizer for winter cultivation, 10% were used as own field, and 34% farmers utilized the fertilizer as both business and own purpose (Fig.7). It also revealed from the survey that insecticide (Fig.8a) and rat killing trap (Fig.8b) were used in the floating cultivation beds. These results are indicated that seedling production in the surveyed areas are mainly covered by economic stable farmers having own produced seedlings rather than other sources which might be the reason of previous experience, economical beneficial and acceptability of farmers in last floating cultivations. Moreover, floating bed uses as good compost fertilizer in winter season on Kandi (a piece of high land for winter vegetable cultivation).

Constraints of floating seedling production
The problems on floating cultivation (FC) revealed various constraints including unavailability of government aid, higher interest rate and inadequate capital. Land scarcity and heavy rainfall were documented as major problems for floating cultivation in four district of Bangladesh (IUCN, 2009) which slightly agreed with this study. In additionally, it was also reported the problems of quality seed, lack of irrigation water, poor communication during marketing as barriers for floating cultivation. Infestation by predator, scarcity of matured water hyacinth, lack of Sell 50% Own use 10% Sell & own use 34% No use 6%

Return of floating bed
Salvenia (Indurkanilata), Najaj and Dulalilata, infestation of different aquatic weeds, frogs and birds eat seedlings and do great harms to the production were reported as the problems of floating bed seedling production by Haq (2009).
Floating seedling cultivation effective to climate change adaptation About 64% farmers associating floating cultivation replied that climate change did not hamper seedlings production and 36% farmers replied various natural issues regarding their seedling production encompassing 6% flood, 4% heavy rain fall and 26% both flood and heavy rain fall. Irfanullah et al. (2011) in his study documented that devastating flood and excessive river current destroyed 23 floating bed in haor areas but Hoque et al.(2016) revealed that 74.3% respondents relied floating agriculture is effective to combat climate change which agree with the present study. Findings indicate that floating cultivation in haor area affected because they were novice about this technique. It is predicted that about 38 cm water rising from now by 2080 which will cover 22% of the world's coastal wetlands (Warrick, 1996;Nicholls et al., 1999). Scientists are clarifying the possible reasons and solutions including evaluating the socio-economic and ecological implications of such a rise in sea-level (Hoozemans and Hulsbergen, 1995).

CONCLUSION
Seedling production on floating bed is very economical and a good source of organic food which could be a good movement for the coming days and a solution of food insecurity. Geographical vulnerability and climate change issue are reducing the scope of seedling production. So a comprehensive study and research is needed to facilitate profitable and sustainable seedling raising one floating bed.