The government is implementing a Tk 211.84 crore project in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to promote coffee and cashew nut cultivation through modern technologies and research. The project aims to expand cultivation areas from 2,000 to 6,000 hectares, boosting production by 50%. High-yielding varieties of cashew nuts and coffee have been developed, with coffee already cultivated on 220 hectares. The project includes a modern field lab at BARI in Khagrachhari and the distribution of high-yield coffee saplings. The initiative aims to enhance the economy and livelihoods in the region, utilizing unused land for coffee cultivation.
The potential earnings from coffee cultivation are significant, with up to Tk 5 lakh possible from 40 decimals of land. The project also aims to meet domestic coffee demand, reducing imports and increasing export potential. The climate in Bangladesh is suitable for Robusta coffee, which thrives at altitudes of 500-1000 meters with 1,000-2,000mm of rainfall. Horticulture centers across the country are producing and selling commercial coffee seedlings at Tk 40 per plant. The BARI is providing up to 500 high-yielding coffee plants free of cost to landowners, facilitating the expansion of coffee cultivation in the CHT region.
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