Floating Gardens - Practical Action

Question 1

Background info

Answer 1

Monsoon season lasts from June to November
160cm rain each monsoon
Farmland is flooded
Water bamboo hyacinth which is a floating plant are sourced locally

Question 2

Positive economic sustainability

Answer 2

Plants are grown to eat and excess can be sold
Raft building skills can be passed on to later generations
Cheap initial cost (£4.40 each)

Question 3

Positive social sustainability

Answer 3

Provides fresh and varied foods
Income from selling crops can be used to further supplement diets
Rafts are mobile and can be moved

Question 4

Positive Environmental sustainability

Answer 4

Bamboo and water hyacinth grow locally so no CO2 produced in transport
Water hyacinth keeps growing when in the raft and can provide a habitat for local biodiversity

Question 5

Negative Economic sustainability

Answer 5

Charity workers must be trained and sent out to Bangladesh
Some people don’t have access to areas where rafts can be used
People can struggle to afford materials to build the rafts

Question 6

Negative social sustainability

Answer 6

Rafts have to be replaced every year
Time and labour rap,caring them can be used elsewhere
Doesn’t control flooding and encourages people to work in the river which increased the risk of drowning

Question 7

Negative environmental sustainability

Answer 7

Water hyacinth is a weed and if unchecked, can double its mass in 4 days
Charity workers have to be flown out which releases CO2 and uses fossil fuels