Bangladesh farmers ferry fresh harvest through historic waterways at peak season

Boats Fill the Monsoon Canals

Hundreds of boats piled high with fresh guavas converge on Bhimruli in southern Bangladesh during the monsoon, transforming its narrow canals into one of the country’s best-known floating produce markets.

Footage shows small wooden boats packed with green guavas, mangoes and bananas crowding the waterways as vendors and buyers trade from boat to boat.

A Busy Season for Guavas

“In this market, mangoes, guavas and lemons are sold throughout the year, but it becomes especially busy during the guava season in Ashar and Shravan, the Bengali months,” local vendor Milan Duari said.

“People from different parts of the world come to see this market […] it is very famous,” he continued.

The market reaches its peak during the annual guava harvest, generally from July to September. Farmers and traders travel by boat from growing areas across Jhalokati, Pirojpur and Barishal, carrying fruit directly from nearby orchards.

From Orchard to Floating Market

According to a local estate owner, farmers arrive at the floating market by boat every day with a range of fruit, with trading running from around 06:00 to 12:00.

Bhimruli sits within a vast belt of guava orchards spanning parts of the three neighbouring districts. The Jhalokati district administration says 562 hectares in the district are used for guava cultivation, involving around 1,530 farmers and producing 6,355 tonnes annually.

The area’s guava cultivation and floating markets date back around two centuries, with the waterways long serving as a vital link between orchards, farmers and buyers.

Article by Viory.