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People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh

People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
01/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
02/15
Caption
Water lilies are seen in full bloom in most water bodies during the season.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
03/15
Caption
A child with his father catching fish in a water body as water lilies are seen in full bloom in most water bodies during the season.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
04/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
05/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
06/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
07/15
Caption
A child cover his face with water lilies as water lilies are seen in full bloom in most water bodies during the season.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
08/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
09/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
10/15
Caption
Water lilies are seen in full bloom in most water bodies during the season.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
11/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
12/15
Caption
Water lilies are seen in full bloom in most water bodies during the season.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
13/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
14/15
Caption
Children collect water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi outskirts of Dhaka.
People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
15/15
Caption
A child collects water lilies from a lake in Norshingdi in the outskirts of Dhaka.
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh
  • People of wetlands farm water lilies in Bangladesh

The livelihood of some wetland farmers is based on water lily farming, which they do for about six to seven months a year. Local farmers take their little boats to fetch water lilies and sell them at the market.

Bangladesh is intertwined with river and canals. The local community never received any message of river-based livelihood system focused towards development. Their only means of livelihood is based on water lily farming, which they do for about six to seven months a year. Local farmers take their little boats to fetch water lily and sell those at the market.
It's a beautiful landscape on water. However, people living here; don't see the same charm in the beauty as outside onlookers do. They don't see any path towards progress. During one season in a year, when the entire area is dried up, the whole place becomes an ocean of paddies; turning it into a sea of greenery. Once the Boro season is gone, farming just slips away from the hands of farmers. The prolonged wait starts- when will the water lilies come out? When will the entire beel be filled with water lilies? The battle for survival starts. Women and children are worst sufferers. Many women fetch water lily to feed their family and stay financially stable. Above all, regularly, they have to eat only water lilies. A group of women in the region regarding their regular intake of water lily.

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