Photo : Collected

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 11, 2025 (BSS)-  ‘Kanchan guava’ produced in the vast hilly areas of Chandanaish and Patiya upazilas of the district has started arriving in the markets. It is famous for its taste and size.  

The guava is being sold in various areas of Chattogram since the beginning of August. Due to the bumper yield of guava, farmers are now busy collecting guava from their orchards and selling it to traders. 

Agriculture offices of these two upazilas said that guava is cultivated on about 830 hectares of hilly land in Chandanaish and Patiya. Farmers sell guava worth more than Tk six crore every season on an average. 

Talking to locals it is learned that this guava has changed the lives of thousands of farmers and helped alleviate poverty by generating employment opportunities for the local people.

Guava is now being cultivated on about 750 hectares of some hills in Kanchannagar and nearby villages and on about 80 hectares of land in the hilly areas of Shrimai, Kharna and Haidgaon in Patiya upazila. 

Local guava farmers said that apart from Kanchannagar, this guava is produced in abundantly in various hilly areas of the upazila including Dhopachhari, Hashimpur, Jungle Hashimpur, Allahabad, Dohazari and Jungle Jamizuri. 

Guava is cultivated in about 2,000 orchards in these hilly areas of Chandanaish every season. It is cultivated without any kind of pesticides. It is rich in nutrients, unique in taste, sweet, has very few hard seeds inside and is attractive in shape. 

When ripen, the inside becomes white, yellow or reddish. The name 'Kanchan Guava' is because the cultivation of this special variety of guava first started in Kanchannagar village of Chandanaish upazila of the district.

 This guava has given this village a special identity; Kanchannagar has become the 'Guava Village' and the fruit has gained fame as 'Kanchan Guava'. This cultivation of guava has now spread to the hilly areas of Shrimai, Kharna and Haidgaon in the neighboring upazila of Patiya. 

Local school teacher Subhash Mallick said, 'Guava in this area is delicious due to the quality of the soil and environment. Even if seeds of this variety are sown in other areas, such delicious guavas are not available. 
 
Guava is cultivated in hundreds of gardens in the hilly areas. Most of the gardens are in Chandanaish. Guava cultivation has now spread to Patiya too.

 Apart from guava, farmers cultivate mangoes, jackfruit, litchi, lemon and other fruits in the gardens. However, the area is famous for its delicious guava. 
 
He said that during the guava season, temporary guava markets are set up at various places in the upazila including Kanchannagar, Kanchannagar Railway Station, in front of BGC Trust University, Khanhat, Gachbaria College Gate, Badamtal, Rawshan Hat, Bagichahat, Dohazari, Kamal Munshir Hat in Patia and Kharna Bus Stand.
 
Chandanaish Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Azad Hossain said that guava has been cultivated on about 750 hectares of hilly land in the upazila this time, saying, "Deputy agricultural officers of various blocks regularly visit the field. The agricultural office always advises farmers. If they bring any problem, we try to solve it.”

Farmer Abu believes that if the jam-jelly producers sign long-term contracts with guava farmers, then the farmers will get their fair price. The amount of guava produced in Chandanaish and Patia exceeds the market price of Tk six crore every season,   Patiya Upazila Agriculture Officer Kalpana Rahman said, 'Guava has been cultivated on about 80 hectares of hilly land in the upazila.

 This year, the yield of Kanchan guava is good. However, some trees have been damaged due to excessive rainfall. This time, farmers are getting good prices. Being a hilly area, guava yields are good here. Due to demand, many small and big traders from outside the Chattogram region have come to buy guava, he said. 

Chandanaish farmer Jane Alam said, 'I have cultivated guava on about eight acres of land. Ten workers work in the orchards at a wage of TK 500-600  per person. There are about 250 guavas in a basket. At the beginning of the current season, a pair of guava baskets is sold at for TK 2,500. 

However, the price starts to decrease every time from the middle of the season. Farmer Sagir Ahmed said that if you work hard and maintain the garden, you can earn up to TK 150,000 per acre during the season. If you work sincerely in the garden, you can earn twice the profit compared to the investment. 

Since guava is perishable, we are not getting a fair price. After collecting it from the garden, we have to sell it quickly. A cold storage is needed to store guava in the area, he said. 

Guava farmer Rabiul Hossain of Kharna village of Patiya said, "The lands where Jum cultivation was once done are now being successfully cultivated. This guava is valued in remote areas. Even though the upazila administration has talked about building a cold storage, there has been no progress." 

Abdul Haque, a fruit trader from Bahaddarhat in the city, said that guavas that arrive at the beginning of the season are being sold at a slightly higher price.

 A dozen guavas are currently being sold in the retail market for TK 100 to 150 depending on the variety. Every season, hundreds of unemployed youth from Chandanaish and Patiya stand on the side of the highway along the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway, from BGC Trust, Rawshanhat, Badamtal, Khanhat, Gachbaria College Gate, Bagichahat, Dewanhat and Dohazari Municipality, carrying bundles of guava and selling them. From there, we buy them in bulk and sell them in different places in the city.