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BENAPOLE, Dec 25: Guava cultivation is gaining popularity among farmers in the eight upazilas of Jashore district for repeated abundant yield and fair prices.
Sources said, a good number of farmers have shifted to guava farming as the fruit brings healthy returns.
Over 935 hectares of land have been brought under guava cultivation this season, said Emdadul Haque, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Faruk Hossain Ujjol of Bahadurpur village under Sharsha upazila said he has three guava orchards on eight bighas of land.
He started production of the fruit in 2016, taking out lease of the land from locals.
Subsequently, he invested Tk 1.5 million in the orchards, making a profit of around Tk 1.0 million in the first year.
"We put emphasis on organic farming instead of spraying pesticides. We wrap each fruit in food-grade poly bags to keep insects away. It prevents fungal spots from appearing on the fruit as well", the grower said.
It saves the ecology and preserves the fruit at the same time. It does not take long to wrap each fruit either because the trees grow 8 to10 feet tall or labourers can do it easily, he added.
Md Jhantu Mia of in Navaron village is one of the first guava farmers in the region. He began the farming in 2012, on leased land, with an initial investment of Tk 0.9 million. Encouraged by good profits, he continued to expand his orchard.
This year, he already bagged a profit of around Tk 1.0 million from his 15-bigha guava farm, he said. These trees bear fruit all year round, but prices are the highest in winter as there are few fruits available, he said.
On the other hand, after all expenses, the guava grown on the same space of land will give them a return of about Tk 75,000. Most of the farmers cultivate Thai 3, 5 and 6 varieties in the village.
Another farmer Mahbubul Alam said he cultivates guava at a cost of Tk 0.1 million per bigha of land every year and makes a profit of Tk 0.3 million per year.
He said there are two farming seasons for Thai guavas. Of them one is from June to August and the other is from May to October.
The current retail price is Tk 60 per kg.
Although this region is famous for its mangoes, guavas are more lucrative as it is available all year round, said Kalu Mia, a retailer of Monirampur upazila.
"I can easily make profit of Tk 400 per day by selling around 80 kgs to 100 kgs of guava," he added.
Sharsha upazila agriculture officer Soutom Kumer Sheel said guava cultivation is expanding in the area. Growers are happy over the present market price.