Guava farming on fallow and abandoned land has shown enormous promise in Moulvibazar’s Jhuri upazila. Farmer Imamul Islam has achieved unexpected success growing guava on fallow land in Champaklata village, in the upazila’s Jaifarnagar union. Inspired by his success, other farmers in the area are now also becoming interested in commercial guava cultivation.
Guava is an extremely popular and widely available fruit in Bangladesh. According to nutritionists, guava is rich in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, which is highly effective for boosting the body’s immunity and aiding digestion. The “Golden Eight” and “Golden Ten” guava varieties in particular are known for being exceptionally tasty, juicy and high-yielding. Because trees of these varieties are small and grow densely, they are well suited to high-density cultivation. As they yield fruit twice a year, these varieties are in high demand among farmers.
Farmer Imamul Islam said he began guava cultivation using modern methods with support from the “Sylhet Region Agricultural Development Project.” He planted 67 saplings of the “Golden Eight” and “Golden Ten” varieties on two bighas of land and achieved a bumper harvest within just one year. Although he has spent roughly 180,000 taka on his orchard so far, he has already sold more than 200,000 taka worth of guava. At current market prices, he is selling an average of 18,000 to 20,000 taka worth of guava per week.
Imamul expects to earn nearly double his costs from selling the remaining fruit on the trees.
People come from far and wide every day to buy the delicious guavas from Imamul Islam’s orchard. Visitors also come in noticeable numbers just to see the orchard. Inspired by Imamul’s success, many others in Champaklata village are now planning to set up guava orchards on their own fallow land.
Jhuri upazila agriculture officer Mahmudul Alam Khan said: “Imamul Islam’s success proves that with the right planning and initiative, even fallow land can be turned into a major source of income. Sandy and loamy soil are the most suitable for guava cultivation, and we have plenty of it in our upazila. We are providing farmers with regular training and technical support through the agriculture department.”
According to agriculture officials, the proper use of modern technology can help ensure higher yields at lower cost and in less time, opening a new horizon for Jhuri’s agriculture sector.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report