Bright prospect of coffee cultivation in 2 dists

Coffee beans being plucked from Abul Hossain’s garden at Gubadia in Madhupu. PHOTO: STAR

Its commercial cultivation is now in sight after experiments by Md Abul Hossain for over a decade.

He had started coffee cultivation in 1992 on 10 decimal land at his Gubadia village in Madhupur upazila in Tangail by bringing some plants from India. He plucked coffee beans after two years.

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He then expanded his garden to one bigha (30 decimal) in 1995. He is preparing coffee dust from beans and supplying those to local markets.

Seeing his success, local agriculture officials visited his garden and tested the soil.

The agriculture officials now say there is bright prospect of coffee cultivation in barren high lands and forests in Tangail Mymensingh. Soil and climate of this area is suitable for coffee, a drink used worldwide. The crop can be cultivated in sloppy lands where rainwater passes off quickly, they said.

"As it was experimental, I did not made it public at that time (1995), said Abul Hossain while talking to this correspondent during a recent visit. He is Executive Director of Mauchash Unnayan Sangstha (MUS), an NGO based in Charaljani in Madhupur.

Now he has about 400 plants in his garden. All the plants are producing coffee beans.

It can be cultivated in light shady places and it needs no extra fertiliser, he said. Inter-cropping with other crops such turmeric and ginger is also possible.

Adul Hossain now supplies the coffee in small packets to local markets.

Now coffee is being cultivated by Mauchash Unnayan Sangstha (MUS), a non-government organization at Charaljani in Madhupur and by some farmers related to MUS.

A total of 125 top 150 plants can be grown on n 10 decimal, which start bearing seeds after two years of plantation. A plant bears seeds from two to five kilograms.

One kilogram of processed coffee dust is sold between Tk 1000 and 1200, but the cost is negligible, said Abul Hossain.

"I have just started harvesting coffee. I am supplying those to local markets.

"Visitors enjoy it at some local tea stalls", he said. Though not properly processed, my coffee is not too inferior to the imported ones", he said.

Abul Hossain says his cultivation is now in preliminary stage. So he is not thinking about its profitability.

But it will certainly be much more profitable than other crops because of its high price and minimal cost, he said.

Abul Hossain said he has distributed seeds to seven local farmers and they have started raising small gardens. More farmers are seeking seeds, but he can not supply.

Farmer Rafiqul Islam in the area said he planted 150 plants last year and hopes to harvest coffee beans next year. It grows with little care, he said.

Plants bear flowers in April and matured seeds are available in three months, Adul Hossain said.

Matured coffee beans are plucked and stored for some days. The beans are separated from shells, dried in sun and then crushed to make coffee dust, ready for preparing the drink.