Pirojpur's floating guava market sells Tk 20cr worth each season

Traditional floating guava market in Pirojpur is attracting tourists, while generating more than Tk 20 crore in sales each season.

The floating guava market in Atghar-Kuriana of Nesarabad upazila has become a popular destination, earning the area the nickname 'Venice of Bengal'. The market, where farmers transport guavas by small boats, is a major centre of the local economy and a unique attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.

As the day begins, farmers from Atghar-Kuriana, Adamkathi, Jindakathi and nearby villages load their small boats with guavas and carry them through the canals to wholesale markets.

The guavas are popular across the country for their large size and taste. They are in high demand in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal and other parts of Bangladesh.

During the season, hundreds of maunds of guavas are transported daily to markets across the country. Local farmers and traders said the fruit sells for Tk 600 to Tk 800 per maund.

Beyond trade, the scenic beauty of the floating market draws crowds of tourists during the guava season. The area takes on a festive atmosphere, with visitors exploring the guava orchards by boat and trawler. Several parks and recreational centres have also developed around the market.

The growing tourist numbers have boosted the local economy and created employment opportunities for unemployed young people. However, visitors have called for better security, improved guesthouses and restaurants, and stronger attention to other tourism-related facilities.

They believe proper monitoring by the authorities could further develop the area as a tourist destination.

Local farmers and traders have also called for a guava jelly processing plant and a cold storage facility to preserve the fruit's quality and help growers secure fair prices.

Soumitra Sarkar, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Pirojpur, said Atghar-Kuriana was the district's leading guava-producing area. Both production and demand have increased compared with last year.

He said agricultural officials were providing farmers with advice to increase guava production. Establishing a mini cold storage facility would allow farmers to preserve their produce during the season and obtain fair market prices.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, guava was cultivated on 716 hectares of land in Pirojpur this year, up from 710 hectares last year.