Production and marketing performance of guava: evidence from Pabna district of Bangladesh

Production and marketing performance of guava

Abstract

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) production has become significant in the horticultural economy of Bangladesh, driven by its strong market demand and high nutritional value. The objectives of the study were to determine the production performance, net return, and marketing efficiency of guava in the Pabna district of Bangladesh. Employing a multi-stage sampling technique, data were collected from guava farmers (80) and market intermediaries (20). A structured questionnaire was used to conduct face-to-face interviews from October to December 2024 to collect data from respondents. For empirical estimation, descriptive statistics, cost-return analysis, the Cobb-Douglas production function, and the marketing-efficiency index were employed. Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 3.97 suggests that guava cultivation was highly profitable among the surveyed farmers in the study area, indicating that for each BDT investment, BDT 3.97 was generated as gross return. A positive agro-ecological environment, which is characterized by loamy soil and efficient use of inputs, helped to achieve the higher profitability. Estimated values of the Cobb-Douglas model suggest that urea and crop protection costs positively affected the yield, while excessive irrigation had an adverse effect. Among the identified marketing channels, Channel 1 was identified as the most efficient channel (producer–retailer–consumer), with the highest marketing efficiency (2.14). On the other hand, Channel IV (producer Aratdar–wholesaler–retailer–consumer) had the lowest efficiency (ME = 0.72). Though poor market information systems and fluctuations in prices were the core problems in marketing guava, other constraints associated with guava production were high wage rates, labor shortage, and costly planting materials. This study recommends farmer-based marketing groups, digital price information, direct producer-retailer links, and storage and transport facilities to improve farmers’ prices and reduce marketing costs.

Ann. Bangladesh Agric. 30(1): 57-73