Ctg farmers achieve landmark coffee harvest, eyes set on export potential

For the first time, farmers in the hilly areas of Chattogram have seen success in cultivation of 'Robusta' and 'Arabica' coffee varieties, marking a milestone in the region's agriculture.

The coffee trees, which were planted about two years ago, have borne fruit this year, and farmers are now harvesting between 1-1.5kg of coffee beans per tree. After drying, this is expected to yield 400-600g of coffee powder per tree.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Chattogram, 51,750 coffee seedlings have been planted over the past five years across 46.69 hectares of hilly land in nearly 50 orchards spanning five upazilas. About one-third of these plants have begun bearing fruit. 

Officials project a harvest of approximately 3 tonnes of coffee beans this year, with yields expected to increase to 5-6 tonnes next year.

According to DAE officials, coffee grows well in humid, shaded hilly areas and does not require dedicated land for cultivation. The soil and climate in Bangladesh's hilly regions are ideal for coffee farming, and it can also be grown alongside other crops like mango, lychee, banana, or papaya. 

Expanding coffee farming in the region could meet domestic demand, create export opportunities, and help save foreign currency spent on coffee imports.

Import data show that the country imports three types of coffee—instant, bean, and roasted. In 2012, 264 tonnes of coffee were imported, but over a decade, this rose dramatically to 1,767 tonnes in the 2021-22 fiscal year, with an average annual growth rate of 56%. 

However, imports slightly decreased in the following years, dropping to 1,732 tonnes in FY2022-23 and further to 1,439 tonnes in FY2023-24. Despite this decline, the DAE reports that the country's annual coffee demand remains around 2,000 tonnes.

Mohammad Babul, a local farmer from Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram, tends to one of his 1,200 coffee plants growing alongside mango, lychee, malta, papaya, and banana trees. His harvest began in early November and the plants are still bearing fruit. He has collected 1 to 1.5 kg of fruit from each plant so far. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS

Under the coffee and cashew cultivation expansion project, launched in FY2019-20, the DAE has cultivated coffee on 46.69 hectares in hilly areas of Chattogram's Sitakunda, Hathazari, Fatikchhari, Rangunia, and Raozan upazilas. The project has provided farmers with free seedlings, fertilisers, pesticides, and other essential resources.

DAE officials say coffee can be planted between other trees like mango, lychee, banana, or papaya. Coffee plants grow up to 5.5 feet tall and require minimal care. After pruning each year, they bear fruit within two to three years. 

Initially, each tree produces 1–5kg of coffee, with yields rising to 7–8kg per tree by eight years. With proper care, the plants can remain productive for up to 20 years.

In FY2019-20, the DAE produced 55.75 tonnes of coffee beans from 118.3 hectares across seven upazilas in Bandarban. By FY2021-22, production rose to 58 tonnes, increasing further to 62 tonnes in 2022-23 and 67 tonnes in 2023-24.

On 26 November, a visit to local farmer Mohammad Babul's hillside orchard in the Boro Kumira area of Chattogram's Sitakunda upazila revealed 1,200 coffee plants growing alongside mango, lychee, malta, papaya and banana trees.

Babul told TBS, "Almost all 1,200 coffee plants in my orchard have flowers and fruit. Harvesting started in early November, and the plants still have fruit on them. So far, I've collected 1–1.5kg of fruit from each plant. For the first yield, it's been quite good. I hope to harvest 2–2.5kg per plant next season."

Sitakunda Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Habibullah told TBS, "Around 7,500 coffee plants have been intercropped in nine orchards across eight unions on 11.6 hectares of land. While the yield was low last year, this year has shown significant improvement."

"Encouraged by this year's harvest, many farmers are now interested in growing coffee," he added.

DAE Chattogram Additional Deputy Director (Crop) Md Omar Faruk said, "Based on the success of coffee farming in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a project was launched to expand coffee cultivation in Chattogram.

"Producing seedlings is inexpensive, no special land is needed, and coffee requires minimal care, making it a profitable crop. The market price is good, and the quality of coffee from this region is excellent."

He added, "Last year, coffee from a plantation near Boga Lake in Bandarban was tested and the Food and Agriculture Organization recognised it as the second most delicious coffee in the world. This recognition motivates us to expand coffee farming."

Omar Faruk continued, "Several coffee processing factories have been established in the country, and North End Coffee Roasters is working on branding Bangladeshi coffee. 

"The pilot project started in the 2019-20 fiscal year and will conclude this year. If the government launches a new project to expand coffee farming across all hilly regions, we could meet domestic demand and start exporting."

The DAE is also running a project called "Cashew and Coffee Research, Development, and Expansion" with a budget of Tk211 crore for the 2021-2025 period. The project aims to develop high-yielding plant varieties, transfer technology, and train farmers across 88 upazilas in 28 districts. It also includes training on processing and marketing these crops.

Project Director Shahidul Islam said that there are around five lakh hectares of unused land in Bangladesh's three hill districts. "If we cultivate coffee on one lakh hectares of this land, it could produce two lakh tonnes of coffee, worth an estimated Tk8,500 crore."