Thai guava is one of the brightest examples of the quiet revolution in Bangladesh's fruit production over the past two decades. Guava was once a seasonal fruit, seldom seen on the market outside the rainy season and autumn. But thanks to modern farming, improved varieties and farmers' ingenuity, Thai guava is now produced throughout the year. It is no longer just a popular fruit but a profitable farm enterprise for the rural economy.

Bangladesh is now among the world's leading guava producers. Farm statistics show that in the 2012-13 fiscal year about 3.14 lakh tonnes of guava were produced on 30,625 hectares. In 2024-25, output rose to more than 6.64 lakh tonnes. Guava worth about Tk 7,000 crore is produced in the country every year. This growth shows that farmers are keen to adopt new technology and that fruit-based farming is steadily expanding.

The biggest feature of Thai guava is that it no longer depends on a particular natural season. Farmers can plan when in the year they will market their fruit, and by producing Thai guava when fruit supply is short, they can get higher prices. That is why commercial Thai guava farming has spread quickly in Natore, Pabna, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Barishal, Gazipur and other districts.

In the fruit shops of major cities, Thai guava now sits with equal importance beside imported apples, oranges, malta and pears. Consumers are turning to it for its nutrition and relatively low price. This is reducing dependence on foreign fruit while benefiting local farmers.

Higher guava production is also helping to reduce fruit imports: apple imports have fallen by about one and a half lakh tonnes a year.

Another important reason for guava's popularity is its nutritional value. Every 100 grams of guava contains about 210 milligrams of vitamin C, in many cases more than oranges and apples. It also contains significant amounts of calcium, iron and carbohydrates. Nutritionists have long advised including guava regularly in the diets of children, adolescents and adults, and guava can also play an important role in tackling malnutrition.

But planting improved saplings alone does not bring success. Thai guava is essentially a crop of planned orchard management. To get fruit all year, land selection, irrigation, fertiliser management, pruning, branch bending, flower and fruit control and bagging must all be applied skilfully. Experienced growers know when to force new shoots and when to plan the harvest, because guava flowers on new shoots, and producing those shoots is the key to year-round production.

Crop cycling is especially important here. If a farmer plans 5 to 7 months ahead in light of market conditions, he can harvest at the desired time, and more off-season production can bring higher profits.

Bagging technology has added a new dimension to Thai guava farming. Special bags placed over the fruit protect it from fruit flies, diseases and the harmful effects of pesticides, making it possible to produce attractive, poison-free fruit. The shiny, spotless Thai guava seen on the market today owes much to this technology.

Economically, too, Thai guava holds great promise. Planting 150 to 200 grafted saplings on one bigha of land can yield fruit within just one year. An orchard three to four years old can earn Tk 3 to 4 lakh a year, and there are examples of 10 to 12 tonnes of fruit from one bigha under good management. This makes it a profitable enterprise for small and medium farmers.

There are challenges, though. Wilt disease, fruit flies, mites and various fungal diseases often reduce yields. Waterlogging, irregular irrigation and unplanned fertiliser use can also cause losses. Farmer training, the supply of quality saplings and field-level extension work therefore need to be strengthened.

The future of Bangladesh's agriculture is not limited to rice. Expanding fruit-based farming is now essential for nutrition, higher incomes and diversification, and Thai guava is a successful example. With proper planning, modern technology and better market management, this fruit can contribute even more to the country's nutrition security and farmers' prosperity.

Guava is now not just a fruit; it is a new name for opportunity for Bangladesh's agri-entrepreneurs.

The writer is a fruit expert and former project director of the "Nutrition Improvement through Year-round Fruit Production" project of the Department of Agricultural Extension.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.