The hilly areas of Sylhet are suitable for growing the Robusta coffee, say researchers
The hilly terrain of Sylhet has long been famous for having the country's oldest and largest tea gardens, and for growing juicy citrus fruits like pineapples, oranges, Shatkora and Jara lemons.
Now, the cultivation of Robusta coffee has become popular – thanks to the assistance of the authorities and researchers. Assisted by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), several Robusta coffee farms were established in the district recently – the largest one on a 50-bigha-land in Golapganj. Coffee is also being cultivated in some small hills in Biyanibazar Upazila. (1 bigha = 0.6 acre)
The Germplasm Centre of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) is researching the potential of commercial coffee production in the Sylhet region.
If things go right, these private farms will be able to introduce the "Sylheti blend" in 2024-25.
While coffee is becoming more and more popular among the masses, with more than 90% of the demand being met by importing green and roasted coffee, there is great potential for farming this cash crop.
The DAE is working to make the best use of the dunes and small hills in Sylhet and is playing a vital role in dune conservation and landslide prevention.
Whole country is suitable
While the climate of the whole country is favourable for growing coffee, Sylhet follows successful small- and medium-scale initiatives in the hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari, and Tangail, Rangpur and Nilphamari areas.
Agriculturists say commercial production of coffee should be promoted with a special focus on the Chittagong Hill Tracts to obtain coffee of good and superior taste and aroma.
North End Coffee Roasters, a popular stop for coffee and pastry, has been promoting locally-grown coffee by adding a "Hill Tract" blend to its list of top global collections.
Soils suitable for coffee cultivation are deep, loamy, rich in organic matter and humus, and slightly acidic (pH 4.5-6.5). Coffee grows best in light shade. Besides, papaya and pineapple can be cultivated as intercrops with it. According to DAE sources, coffee farming does not require much additional fertilizer, pesticide, or irrigation.
Coffee plants usually flower in January-February, and fruits can be harvested in November-December. Coffee plants have a history of living 60-100 years and bear fruits three years after planting, while large-scale production starts in 6-7 years.
Farmers get 6kgs of fruits from a plant every year, which yields 1kg of shelled coffee beans, and finally, 750gms of beans or seeds are obtained. A farmer can make a profit of around Tk1,00,000 to Tk1,50,000 from one acre by cultivating Robusta coffee. The yield of Arabica coffee is much lower.
Sylhet DAE Additional Director Md Mosharraf Hossain Khan said they were working to spread coffee farming under a project initiated by the Agriculture Ministry to popularize the cultivation of coffee and cashew nuts around the country. Under the project, the DAE and the Horticulture Centres sell and distribute coffee plants.
He commented that the potential of coffee cultivation in Sylhet was very bright because of its soil and weather patterns.
Professor AFM Saiful Islam of the SAU Crop Botany and Tea Production Department said they had collected 200 coffee plants from the CHT and various research institutes.
"The position of coffee is after oil in world trade, and the demand for coffee is increasing quickly in the country," said Prof Saiful, the founder and chief researcher of the SAU Germplasm Centre.
He added that his centre is now assessing the commercial production of Arabica and Robust coffees in the hilly region.
Privately-owned Coffee Garden Manager Abu Sufian said they had around 3,500 plants on 50 bigha developed with the help of the Upazila Agriculture Office, from where they got around 1,500 saplings.
The garden owner, Syed Masum Ahmad, is constantly looking after the garden from the US. The farm is located at Kadmarsul village adjacent to Amura Union Complex in Golapganj. The saplings were planted alongside pineapples on high and low dunes.
Coffee Garden Manager Abu Sufian said the plants would flower in January-February. “We expect good profits from the farm in the long run and have plans to expand it. We've built a lakeside coffee house next to the garden for tourists.”
Golapganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Anisuzzaman said this garden could be a great example of how to bring fallow land under cultivation, increasing Sylhet's tradition of lemon and pineapple cultivation, dune conservation, landslide prevention, and creating entrepreneurs.