As the only floating guava market in Jhalakathi, Vimruli attracts orchardists keen to sell their daily harvest from across the district.

Buyers from all over the country are similarly drawn to the market with a view to transporting the fruit to cities and towns. Every day 15 large trawlers arrive to load guavas. But these days prices offered to growers are a pittance.

"Guavas are the main income source for my family," said orchardist Sudhir Mistry.

"At current prices I cannot even recover capital expenses. It costs at least Tk 150 a maund to produce guavas but the current selling rate is only Tk 25," he said.

A similarly disappointed Ripon Mistry said, "My family depends on this … Now I only see a bleak future."

He suggested that the wholesalers have become the industry's main beneficiaries. "The profits accrue in their pockets and not ours."

Another grower, Subhash, said, "I pay Tk 400 a day per labourer to pick the fruit."

"Today I hired three labourers but the whole crop sold for only Tk 600, which is half the cost of their wages. At these rates there will be no guava production in Jhalakathi."

A major obstacle to growers' profits is the lack of easy road linkages to markets.

However, the situation is rosy for wholesalers.

"For the last 15 years I have been coming here to buy guavas for sale in Bagerhat," said wholesaler Yunus Ali.

"Guavas here are cheaper than in other markets, which means higher profits."

Many farmers were seen approaching boat after boat in the hope of selling their fruit at a reasonable rate, only to find frustration. Some farmers said they would return home without selling the crop.

"I have to starve today as I couldn't sell the guavas," said a downcast Nimay Chandra while sitting on his boat piled high with the fruit. "I won't be able to buy rice but my family is waiting."