Most gardens are rooted within the soil, and seeds are sown in plots which might be firmly connected to the bottom. However, communities living around Inle Lake in Taunggyi take a distinct approach to growing crops. Instead of limiting themselves to landing, they created a network of floating gardens that float on the surface of the water.
About 1 / 4 of this vast freshwater lake, the second largest within the country, is roofed with artificial gardens. Farmers move between their garden plots by boat, harvesting from patches of “earth” that rise and fall with the movement of the water.
The primary crop grown in these unconventional gardens is tomatoes, accounting for about 90 percent of the whole yield. Depending on the season, farmers also harvest beans, cucumbers, flowers and gourds. Naturally, root vegetables have difficulty growing in such shallow conditions.
Establishing these miniature islands is a demanding undertaking. Farmers collect clumps of water hyacinth and seagrass and secure them in place with large bamboo poles that stick firmly into the muddy lake bottom. They then place additional layers of seagrass and silt on the mounds before sowing the seeds.
The practice of growing crops on the surface of a lake, slightly than on its periphery, is believed to have originated within the nineteenth century and gained momentum within the Nineteen Sixties. While this unique farming method has strengthened the local economy, concerns have been raised about potential damage to the lake’s natural ecosystem from chemical fertilizers, pesticides and runoff.
