1) Float-farming using hydroponic and aquaculture techniques provides a climate resilient livelihood for indigenous communities in flood-prone regions of India and Bangladesh, helping ensure food security. 2) A pilot project reached over 2,500 households across 27 villages, training 450 beneficiaries and establishing 6 hectares of float farms. Produce generated over $3,000 in income. 3) Plans are underway to scale up the project four-fold, reaching 20,000 farmers across 200 hectares while improving technologies and integrating organic soil-free farming, solar irrigation, and local institutions.

1. Climate Resilient Float-farming for Food Security
and Livelihood in Mangroves of Sundarbans
Dr. Dipayan Dey
SOUTH ASIAN FORUM FOR ENVIRONMENT
research@safeinch.org, www.safeinch.org

2. India:
Sundarban-
West Bengal;
Majuli-
Assam;
Saharsa-
Bihar
Bangladesh:
Shyamnagar
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65- 70% land is completely submerged in
flood waters for 8 months
77% of agrarian land is inundated
forcing the community to temporarily
migrate
At least 3.8 million people of marginal
indigenous agrarian communities suffer
from extreme food shortage and
livelihood loss
87% youth are forced to temporarily
migrate as casual labours, leaving
women in deep distress

3. 1/10/2023
South
Asian
Forum
For
Environment
Sites
India: Sundarban- West Bengal; Majuli- Assam; Saharsa- Bihar;

4. Bangladesh:
Vill: Pakhimara,
Padmapukur
Shyamnagar
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5. The Poverty
Inequality
Challenge
• Geographical
inaccessibility during
disaster
• Climate vulnerability
threats livelihood &
food security
• Ethnic inequality
being poor indigenous
community
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6. The Innovation
• Flood-water hydroponic
farming & aquaculture
• Integrating livestock and
crop diversification
• Financial inclusion for
disaster mitigation
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7. Pilot Phase (July’18 to Sep’19)
• Number of indigenous villages sensitized: 27
• No of households reached out: 2500+
• Number of beneficiaries trained: 450
• Total area under Float-farming: 6 Hectares
• Horticultural products: $1700.00
• Rice seedlings: $ 500.00
• Fish Pen & Cage: $ 3650.00
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8. Scale-Up Phase: Objectives
• 4-fold scaling-up, reaching out to 20,000 poor indigenous farmers in
India & Bangladesh spanning 200 ha.
• Technology improvisation for Floating Integrated Agricultural
Module (FIAM) & Organic Farming
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9. Scale-Up Phase: Objectives
Soil-free no-till regenerative organic farming
(SROF) in floats to leverage bio-circularity
Solar Micro-irrigation for climate resilience &
community preparedness.
Strengthening local institutions for economy
of scale.
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10. FIAM: Making of It…
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11. FIAM: COVID-19 &
Cyclone AMPHAN
Social Distancing
in a FIAM is by
default
FIAM is a disaster
resilient
structure for
Cyclone AMPHAN
FIAM boosts local
economy & food
security in
Lockdown
Alternative
livelihood for
migrants
displaced by
COVID
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12. Glimpses of FIAM-1
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13. Glimpses of FIAM-2
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14. Glimpses
of FIAM-3
(Solar
Lighted)
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15. Economics of
FIAM: Sundarbans
• PRV: 78% & Profit on Sale: 71%
• Break-even Period: 42 months
• Income-Expenditure ratio: 4.51
• Beneficiary pay-out: $170/month
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16. 1/10/2023 South Asian Forum For Environment 16
Float Farming & Aquafarming: Sundarbans (60 FIAM Average)
6-Month's Production and Revenue Returns (November 2020 - April 2021)
Agro-farming products
Harvest
Amount
Unit
Market price
per Unit (INR)
Market Value
(INR)
Sale (%)
Sale value
(INR)
Horticultural Products
Brinjal 230 kg 45.00 10350.00 20 2070.00
Chilli 270 kg 110.00 29700.00 50 14850.00
Tomato 322 kg 55.00 17710.00 30 5313.00
Leafy Vegetables 350 kg 35.00 12250.00 10 1225.00
Okra 180 kg 40.00 7200.00 20 1440.00
Gourds (Variety) 265 kg 35.00 9275.00 10 927.50
Medicinal Herbs 75 kg 200.00 15000.00 70 10500.00
Capsicum 40 kg 120.00 4800.00 70 3360.00
Aquafarming Products 0.00
Crab (300 gms / pc) 160 pc 250.00 40000.00 70 28000.00
Crab (200 gms / pc) 220 pc 150.00 33000.00 50 16500.00
Fish (IMC) 280 kg 70.00 19600.00 60 11760.00
Fish (Local Var) 310 kg 180.00 55800.00 20 11160.00
TOTAL 254685.00 107105.50

17. Participatory
Crop Calendaring
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18. Integrating
Fisheries and Crab
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19. Crab
Fattening

20. Awards &
Accolades
• Awarded World
Design Award
2020
• Finalist in Equator
Award 2019: UNDP
• Most Innovative
Developmental
Project Award GDN
(World Bank
Groups) & JICA,
Japan 2018
• Enlisted in Nairobi
Work Program of
UNFCCC 2018
1/10/2023 South Asian Forum For Environment 20

21. 1/10/2023 South Asian Forum For Environment 21