BSS, Rajshahi :
Many people have changed their fate by farming and trading guava in particular Thai variety in the region including its vast Barind tract with expending its farming every year.
Nazrul Islam, a guava cultivator of village Palpur in Godagari upazila said today, “I have been gaining good profit cultivating Guava on Commercial basis for the last several years”.
He said “If farmers use chemical fertilizers, they won’t get guava all over the year and those will not look fresh. The organic method is the secret under successful guava farming.”
Since 2010, the region has seen a revolution in guava farming. Farmers are now growing guava on vast tract of land. Around 6,000 farm entrepreneurs are directly involved in Guava cultivation and most of these people are educated, said Agriculturist SM Mustafizur Rahman, Additional Director at Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Integrated Quality Horticulture Development Project of the DAE has played a vital role in guava cultivation abundantly. Under this project, 600 farmers, farm entrepreneurs, labourers from Rajshahi and surrounding districts have been trained in 20 batches.
Meanwhile, a silent revolution has happened in Thai guava farming for its gradual rising demands and lucrative market price everywhere in the region at present.
Many farmers and unemployed people are now cultivating the variety because of its prospects and suitable land condition.
“Guava is supposed to be the main cash crop in near future in the region as its topography and climate condition is very much suitable for this crop,” said Dev Dulal Dhali, Deputy Director of DAE, here on Sunday.
He said the crop is being cultivated on more than 4,500 hectares of land in the region of Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts while there are over 1500 orchards of Thai guava at present.
DAE has given knowledge to the farmers about the cultivation process of Thai variety.
Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station, said Thai guava is more nutritious than Kazi guava. It is comparatively big in size and market value is higher than Kazi guava. Per kilogram of Thai Guava is now being sold at Tk 90 to 120.
