RAJSHAHI, July 9, 2019 (BSS) – Commercial farming of high yielding guava
has been gaining popularity in the region including its both char (riverbed)
of the Padma river and mainland as the farmers reap better yield and get fair
market price from the cash crop.
Farmers of most of the char areas like Alatoly, Diar Manik Chalk,
Asariadaha, Mazar Diar, Taranagar, Khidirpur, Khanpur, Shayampur and Gargori
are seen cultivating guava along with other seasonal fruits and cereal crops
on commercial basis.
More than 105 hectares of land were brought under the guava farming only
in Char Mazar Diar village under Paba Upazila of the district, sources said.
“I have a Thai guava orchard on two and half bigha of lands. I have been
harvesting guava from the orchard during last couple of years and getting a
better yield,” said Md Kabatullah, a farmer of the village.
Mozam Uddin, another farmer said, “I have been gaining good profit
cultivating Guava on Commercial basis for the last several years”.
Some other farmers including Syed Ali, Humayun Kabir and Raju Ahmed also
echoed the success stories.
“We disseminate modern knowledge and technical support to the farmers to
make the farming profitable and sustainable,” said Iqbal Hossain, Sub
Assistant Agriculture Officer here, adding that many farmers became self-
reliant through the guava farming.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Sharmin Sultana told BSS that guava farming in
char areas is a good sign in terms of vibrating local economy.
She added that a silent revolution has been taken place in the field of
Thai Guava farming by dint of its gradually rising demands and lucrative
market price everywhere in the region including its char areas at present.
Many farmers and unemployed people of the region are now cultivating the
variety because of its prospects and suitable land condition contributes a
lot to diversify guava cropping in the region including its vast Barind
tract, she said.
“Guava is expected to be the main cash crop in near future in the region
as its topography and climate condition is very much suitable for the crop,”
said Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE), here on Monday.
He said guava is being cultivated on more than 4,500 hectares of land in
Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts where there are now
over 1500 orchards of Thai Guava.
Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station, Dr Alim
Uddin, said Thai Guava is more nutritious than many other varieties. It is
comparatively big in size and its market value is higher than Kazi Guava. Per
kilogram of Thai Guava is now being sold at Tk 90 to 100 which contain only
three to four Guavas, he added.