Shawdesh Desk: 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  rchard 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). 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.