Development and adaptation of floating gardens as alternative production system in the swamp and flood-prone communities
2013
Corales, R.G. | Dimaano, V.T. | Quilang, E.J.P. | Rivera, J.M. | Corpuz, A.A. | Alosnos, E.D. | Juliano, L.M. | Orge, R.F.
The Philippines abound with major swamp and marshes that host to a significant portion of our population. The primary means of livelihood by the families are fishing when the water levels are high and agriculture when the water levels are low. However, these areas are posed with issues such as population pressure, poverty, livelihood and basic health needs in addition to climate change and environmental concerns. The climate change vulnerability index of October 2011 ranks the Philippines as number three among 173 countries vulnerable to climate change. The worsening state of the country's exposure to climate variability was evidenced by the 19 typhoons that hit the country in 2011 submerging and devastating vast tract of agricultural lands. Because of these scenarios, there is a need to develop alternative production system to enhance the adaptive capacity of the swamp and flood-prone communities. The Climate Change Center of PhilRice CES, Nueva Ecija evaluated locally available materials in developing floating gardens, and the adaptability of several crops to floating garden cultivation from July 2010 to October 2012. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), plastic bottles, and bamboo poles were the most cost-efficient materials for floating gardens. Plastic bottles were used also for aquaponics floating gardens. Crops like Pechay (Brassica rapa), mustard (Brassica juncea), upland kangkong (Ipomea reptans), bush sitao (Vigna unguiculata), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings were adaptable to floating garden cultivation.
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