BOGURA, July 12: Hundreds of marginal farmers have become self-reliant growing Thai guava variety due to favourable weather condition in Bogura district.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official have provided all sort of necessary agri-input among the eager farmers to make the cultivation a grand success in all twelve upazilas of the region.
The peasants have started getting benefit from the farming from last month, said farmer Hafizar Rahman, 45, under Shibganj upazila of the district. Thai guava variety farming is expanding across the region due to its lucrative profit investing trifling money, he added.
According to suggestion of authority concern the farmers use urea fartilser, khoil, TSP, potash and organic fartilser simultaneously. Though guava grows round the year, rainy season is suitable for well grown and it boosts economical condition to the farmers.
"I had planted around 175 saplings in 30 decimal of land digging a feet deep and five feet distance aiming bumper production," said farmer Kalam Udddin, 32, under Kahaloo upazila. "I have already started harvesting the fruit in large scale from the last month." he added.
In a recent visit the correspondent of FE found the farmers are passing busy time from the very early to late at night in the crop land defying adverse weather condition. They are mostly delight over good market price and bumper production.
Wholesaler Abdur Rahman at Mohasthan bazar said, each KG of the Thai guava is being sold at Tk 70 to 80 in the retail market while Tk 50 to 55 in the wholesale markets. The fruits are being sent across the country mitigating the local demand, he added.
If the trees have been well nurtured, the fruit may be harvested after one or two year of its plantation. The farmers grow keen interest to bring the new crop land under Thai variety guava cultivation in the region. They need not provide much irrigation and fertilser at all.
To keep the fruit fresh and healthy they have to use insecticide minimum 10 to 15 times. To produce a KG of fresh fruit the farmers are to spend Tk 35 to 45 and sell them at Tk 70 to 80.
Deputy Director of DAE Protul Chadra Sarker said, "We have provided logistic support among the eager farmers to grow the fruits in commercial basis. Besides, the region posses a bright prospect for growing the fruit on a large scale, he added.
