Home Gardens in Cox’s Bazar: A Path to Food Security for Rohingya Refugees

For decades, refugee communities have found ways to grow food in even the most challenging environments. In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, home to the largest Rohingya refugee camp in the world, home gardens have emerged as a crucial strategy for improving food security, health, and well-being. A recent research project conducted between 2022 and 2025 by Re-Alliance, in collaboration with the Food Security Cluster and Rohingya student researchers from the Asian University for Women, examines the costs and benefits of these gardens.

The Growing Need for Food Security

With cuts in humanitarian aid, the Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar has faced severe food shortages. In 2023, food assistance was reduced to $8 per person per month, increasing only marginally over time. While this has since been increased in line with earlier figures, recent changes by large governments in relation to the provision of aid, mean that food subsidies continue to be threatened and will, for the immediate future be cut to 50% of what were already minimal rations. With limited resources and high levels of food insecurity, organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), FAO, BRAC, and others have introduced home gardening as a sustainable food source.

However, growing food in Cox’s Bazar is not easy. Limited space, poor soil quality, extreme weather, and pests create significant challenges. Despite this, over 1,000 small gardening projects were recorded in 2022, demonstrating a substantial investment in food-growing initiatives. By 2023, 14 organisations were actively involved in these programs, with various levels of success and impact.

In densely populated areas like Cox's Bazar, organisations like BASD encourage residents to grow in whatever spaces they can, including on rooftops and along fences.

Evaluating Success: How Do Home Gardens Help?

The research surveyed 14 organisations implementing home gardening programs and interviewed 159 refugee households. The study sought to answer key questions:

• Are home gardens still being effectively used?

• What are the costs, inputs, and approaches of different organisations?

• What benefits do households experience in terms of food security, health, and well-being?

• Can home gardens compensate for reductions in food aid?

Findings: A Mixed Picture of Challenges and Successes

The results showed that 93% of gardens remained in use seven to eleven months after being established. Households reported numerous benefits, including:

• Improved food security: Many families had better access to fresh vegetables, reducing their dependence on external aid. On average, households with gardens harvested a wide range of produce annually, between 7-195 kg, depending on the organisation supporting them.

• Health benefits: Respondents reported increased energy, better nutrition, and improved overall well-being. Some families noted weight gain and fewer illnesses.

• Income generation: Some households earned between 100-2,500 BDT by selling surplus produce, helping them supplement their household income.

• Psychosocial benefits: Green spaces contributed to mental health, reduced stress, and provided a sense of home, particularly for women and elderly members of the community.

Costs and Yields: Breaking Down the Figures

A comparative analysis of the different organisations implementing home gardens revealed significant variations in investment and outcomes:

• Action Aid: Invested 33.6 million BDT ($276,000) for 10,000 gardens, costing approximately $27.6 per garden, with an average yield of 195 kg per household.

• BRAC: Spent 97 million BDT ($797,000) for 15,000 gardens, with a per-garden cost of $53 and an average yield of 180 kg.

• Concern (BRPM & SARPV): Costs per garden ranged from $11.7 to $11.8, but yields were lower at 7-12 kg.

• Dan Church Aid: Spent 72.8 million BDT ($600,000) for 5,000 gardens, at a cost of $12 per garden, yielding 50-60 kg per household.

• Mukti: With a budget of 440,800 BDT ($36,000) for 6,500 gardens, the per-garden cost was only $5.5, yet some recorded household yields of up to 626 kg.

• BASD Permaculture Approach: Cost per garden was estimated at $13.2 for training and stipends, with host community gardens yielding up to 1,000 kg per year, significantly outperforming other interventions.

As can be seen from these results The Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD) achieved far higher yields than other projects. While they were surveyed 5 years after training, and other projects just under one year, it could be that yields in other places would improve significantly over time. Additionally, different ways of reporting and recording between organisations make a direct comparison difficult to achieve. Nonetheless, results indicate that while Permaculture approaches required more training and effort initially, they resulted in significantly higher yields over time, making them a more sustainable option.

Challenges in Home Gardening

Despite the benefits, refugees faced significant obstacles:

• Space constraints: Many gardens had to rely on vertical or rooftop gardening due to limited land. Rooftop gardens, however, were vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

• Climate-related threats: Flooding, monsoons, droughts, and high winds often damaged crops and eroded topsoil, making consistent gardening difficult.

• Lack of tools and resources: Refugees reported needing more bamboo, seeds, and water-saving techniques to sustain their gardens. Many also lacked fertilizers and pest control solutions.

• Cultural and gender barriers: Some women found it difficult to engage in gardening activities due to social norms and restrictions, particularly in tasks like climbing onto rooftops or managing composting.

Some of these challenges are apparent in the much higher yields gained by all organisations working with host communities, where hosts have better soils, more space and a greater familiarity with the local environment. 

Salam, this is my tiny permaculture garden. I do not have extra space for gardening. I got PDC from BASD and started gardening. My neighbours also followed me observing my garden. I didn't know much about gardening earlier but now I know its importance, good food and poisonous food. I planted in a very small area some plants of bottle gourd, sweet pumpkin, bringet, chilli, tomato etc. Me and my family members enjoy food from our garden. I do sell a surplus of vegetables. I give thanks to BASD for giving us such a beautiful training.  - Siraj of Camp 19 at Cox's Bazar shares his garden and experience of working with BASD

Is Permaculture the Answer for Refugees?

Initially it would seem that Permaculture can make a significant difference.  Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD) have for 6 years helped households integrate regenerative, self-sufficient gardening practices using composting, water conservation, and organic methodologies. Their methods involve training community leaders, who then teach others, creating a cascading effect. First introduced into Bangladesh by Rosemary Morrow, a renowned Permaculture teacher, author and co-founder of Re-Alliance's sister organisation Permaculture4Refugees, in 2018 they claim to have started the campaign for home gardening in Cox’s Bazar and established the very first gardens. They are now offering training to other organisations. Rosemary Morrow published  ‘The Earth Restorer’s Guide to Permaculture’ in 2022 and the director of BASD has since translated this entirely into Bengali. 

Their Permaculture training consists of a 72 hour course spread over 15 days, significantly longer than the 5 hour or 5 day trainings that other organisations offered to home gardeners. Rather than provide them with tools or seeds they offer each a small stipend, (around $10 USD), to purchase these things, encouraging them to share knowledge, tools and seeds with the others they train. This creates a sense of ownership among gardeners who become social innovators at the same time. 

Despite BASD trainees being surveyed 5 years after training while other gardens were seen up to one year later.compared to traditional gardening approaches, Permaculture yielded significantly higher returns. Their approach required minimal financial input after the initial setup, proving to be a cost-effective and sustainable solution. Additionally, Permaculture-trained households reported greater resilience against climate challenges due to improved soil quality and water management techniques.

What Can Be Done Next?

The study highlighted key recommendations for future interventions:

1. Develop better evaluation methods: Traditional cost-benefit analyses fail to capture the full impact of gardening initiatives. New metrics that consider social and psychological benefits are needed as well as more consistent approaches to record keeping by different organisations within the food security cluster. 

2. Incorporate traditional agricultural knowledge: Programs should be designed with input from refugees who have farming experience. This can help improve crop selection and farming techniques in the camp environment.

3. Scale up successful interventions: Permaculture and other regenerative approaches should be expanded. Training should be provided not just for growing food, but also for seed saving, composting, and climate adaptation techniques.

4. Recognise non-food benefits: The psychological and social impacts of gardening should be considered in program planning. Green spaces can contribute to well-being, stress reduction, and community bonding.

5. Improve access to resources: Providing better tools, seeds, water-saving irrigation methods, and training opportunities can increase the sustainability of home gardens.

   
   

Conclusion

Home gardens in Cox’s Bazar have proven to be more than just a means of food production. They empower refugees, provide nutritional and economic benefits, and contribute to mental well-being. While challenges remain, investing in regenerative approaches inspired by Permaculture can enhance the long-term resilience of displaced communities.

With ongoing support and innovation, home gardening could become a vital strategy for ensuring food security and dignity for the Rohingya and other refugee populations worldwide. By refining approaches, integrating traditional knowledge, and ensuring long-term sustainability, humanitarian organisations can make a lasting impact in these vulnerable communities.