For the first time, farmers within the hilly areas of Chattogram possess considered success in cultivation of ‘Robusta’ and ‘Arabica’ espresso kinds, marking a milestone within the attach of abode’s agriculture.
The espresso trees, which possess been planted about two years ago, possess borne fruit this year, and farmers are genuinely harvesting between 1-1.5kg of espresso beans per tree. After drying, right here’s anticipated to yield 400-600g of espresso powder per tree.
Per the Division of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Chattogram, 51,750 espresso seedlings possess been planted over the final 5 years across 46.69 hectares of hilly land in nearly 50 orchards spanning 5 upazilas. About one-third of those vegetation possess begun bearing fruit.
Officials project a harvest of approximately 3 tonnes of espresso beans this year, with yields anticipated to elongate to 5-6 tonnes subsequent year.
Per DAE officers, espresso grows smartly in humid, murky hilly areas and doesn’t require devoted land for cultivation. The soil and local weather in Bangladesh’s hilly regions are wonderful for espresso farming, and it will also be grown alongside other vegetation enjoy mango, lychee, banana, or papaya.
Increasing espresso farming within the attach of abode may per chance presumably meet domestic assign a matter to, fabricate export alternatives, and relieve establish distant places forex spent on espresso imports.
Import recordsdata account for that the nation imports three forms of espresso—quick, bean, and roasted. In 2012, 264 tonnes of espresso possess been imported, but over a decade, this rose dramatically to 1,767 tonnes within the 2021-22 fiscal year, with a median annual enhance price of 56%.
On the opposite hand, imports a diminutive reduced within the next years, shedding to 1,732 tonnes in FY2022-23 and additional to 1,439 tonnes in FY2023-24. Regardless of this decline, the DAE experiences that the nation’s annual espresso assign a matter to stays spherical 2,000 tonnes.
Below the espresso and cashew cultivation expansion project, launched in FY2019-20, the DAE has cultivated espresso on 46.69 hectares in hilly areas of Chattogram’s Sitakunda, Hathazari, Fatikchhari, Rangunia, and Raozan upazilas. The project has equipped farmers with free seedlings, fertilisers, pesticides, and other important sources.
DAE officers pronounce espresso will even be planted between other trees enjoy mango, lychee, banana, or papaya. Espresso vegetation develop as a lot as 5.5 toes huge and require minimal care. After pruning every year, they undergo fruit within two to three years.
At the start, every tree produces 1–5kg of espresso, with yields rising to 7–8kg per tree by eight years. With wonderful care, the vegetation can reside productive for as a lot as 20 years.
In FY2019-20, the DAE produced 55.75 tonnes of espresso beans from 118.3 hectares across seven upazilas in Bandarban. By FY2021-22, production rose to 58 tonnes, rising additional to 62 tonnes in 2022-23 and 67 tonnes in 2023-24.
On 26 November, a refer to to local farmer Mohammad Babul’s hillside orchard within the Boro Kumira attach of abode of Chattogram’s Sitakunda upazila published 1,200 espresso vegetation rising alongside mango, lychee, malta, papaya and banana trees.
Babul told TBS, “Almost all 1,200 espresso vegetation in my orchard possess plant life and fruit. Harvesting began in early November, and the vegetation still possess fruit on them. So some distance, I’ve unruffled 1–1.5kg of fruit from every plant. For the first yield, or now not it has been somewhat correct. I’m hoping to harvest 2–2.5kg per plant subsequent season.”
Sitakunda Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Habibullah told TBS, “Spherical 7,500 espresso vegetation possess been intercropped in nine orchards across eight unions on 11.6 hectares of land. Whereas the yield changed into low final year, this year has shown predominant development.”
“Inspired by this year’s harvest, many farmers are genuinely in rising espresso,” he added.
DAE Chattogram Extra Deputy Director (Chop) Md Omar Faruk acknowledged, “Primarily basically based totally on the success of espresso farming within the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a project changed into launched to elongate espresso cultivation in Chattogram.
“Producing seedlings is life like, no special land is wanted, and low requires minimal care, making it a winning cleave. The market tag is correct, and the quality of espresso from this attach of abode is pretty.”
He added, “Final year, espresso from a plantation shut to Boga Lake in Bandarban changed into examined and the Food and Agriculture Group recognised it because the second most dazzling espresso on the earth. This recognition motivates us to elongate espresso farming.”
Omar Faruk persevered, “Several espresso processing factories possess been established within the nation, and North Cease Espresso Roasters is engaged on branding Bangladeshi espresso.
“The pilot project began within the 2019-20 fiscal year and can mark this year. If the authorities launches a brand sleek project to elongate espresso farming across all hilly regions, we may per chance presumably meet domestic assign a matter to and begin exporting.”
The DAE will likely be running a project called “Cashew and Espresso Overview, Building, and Expansion” with a funds of Tk211 crore for the 2021-2025 length. The project goals to mark excessive-yielding plant kinds, transfer skills, and put collectively farmers across 88 upazilas in 28 districts. It also entails coaching on processing and advertising these vegetation.
Project Director Shahidul Islam acknowledged that there are spherical 5 lakh hectares of unused land in Bangladesh’s three hill districts. “If we cultivate espresso on one lakh hectares of this land, it goes to manufacture two lakh tonnes of espresso, price an estimated Tk8,500 crore.”
