Few crops command the global stage like coffee, a commodity second only to fossil fuels in international trade. Its distinctive aroma, elegant blossoms and vibrant red cherries make it both a cultural icon and an economic engine. In Bangladesh, a surge in coffee consumption in recent years suggests that the country is ready to tap into this expanding global opportunity.
Coffee cultivation has been practised in the Bandarban district for the last 10 to 15 years. Ethnic communities - particularly the Bom, Lusai, Marma and Tripura farmers - have adopted coffee farming profitably, often as an intercrop on fallow hill land. Yields have been promising in the hills of Khagrachari Sadar, Bandarban Sadar, Ruma and Rowangchhari. As a result, shifting cultivation (jhum) practices are gradually decreasing among the hill people.
The soil and climate of Bangladesh's hilly regions are especially suited for commercial coffee cultivation. Acidic soil rich in organic matter, medium to high slopes and light shade provide ideal growing conditions. Since coffee grows well under shade, it can be cultivated as a mixed crop inside other fruit orchards. The crop is high-yielding, disease-tolerant and relatively low-cost to maintain, particularly when integrated with other fruit trees. For these reasons, coffee is emerging as an important and highly profitable cash crop.
Countries across South Asia, including India, have taken up commercial coffee cultivation and are benefiting from it. Global demand continues to rise, and Bangladesh is no exception. While water and tea were once the dominant beverages in the country, coffee is increasingly gaining popularity. Beyond its role as a drink, coffee is a crucial raw material for several industries. Caffeine extracted from coffee is essential in the beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors.
Although coffee is entirely imported into Bangladesh at present, the country has strong potential to develop its own coffee industry. If coffee can be cultivated, processed, packaged and marketed domestically, it would generate local employment and strengthen the supply chain. Activities such as pulping, dehulling and roasting could create new income opportunities, particularly for unemployed youth and women. The current annual demand for coffee in Bangladesh is about 2,000 tonnes, valued at around Tk 600 crore, and demand is growing by nearly 60 per cent each year. To meet rising consumption, local production will become essential.
The government's Cashewnut and Coffee Research, Development and Extension Project has been promoting research and expansion of coffee cultivation. Under this initiative, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) began research on coffee in 2021. So far, scientists have developed two improved coffee varieties, both of which are showing encouraging results for farmers.
One notable example is farmer Jiten Tripura of Alutila in Khagrachari. In 2022, he planted 800 trees of the BARI Coffee-1 variety and has already begun harvesting and selling processed coffee in local shops. His earnings amount to around Tk 1,500 a day from selling 50 to 60 cups of coffee. Similarly, Himangsu (Bora) Chakma has planted 1,200 coffee seedlings in the Eight Mile area near Sajek Valley and has started harvesting. Several coffee companies are now showing interest in buying ripe coffee cherries from farmers like them. These success stories signal the beginning of a promising new industry, with many more farmers expected to benefit soon.
Processing and marketing are crucial components of the coffee value chain. To support local production, BARI scientists have developed processing equipment-including coffee pulpers, roasters and grinders-using locally available materials. A number of entrepreneurs and traders have already entered the sector. As imported coffee beans remain costly, importers rely heavily on instant coffee. Developing a robust local coffee industry would reduce dependence on imports and potentially enable Bangladesh to export coffee and earn foreign exchange.
Coffee cultivation also offers significant environmental and socio-economic benefits. The crop supports sustainable agroforestry, improves soil quality, provides shade, and helps reduce deforestation and soil erosion in hill regions. Coffee-based agroforestry is a proven scientific method for environmental conservation. Expanding coffee cultivation can enhance food security, improve nutrition, protect hill ecosystems, generate employment for women and youth, and increase household incomes.
In short, coffee cultivation is not merely about producing a popular beverage; it carries the potential to transform the livelihoods of hill farmers and improve the environment of the country's hilly regions. With proper research, processing facilities, marketing support and policy guidance, Bangladesh can build a vibrant coffee industry that contributes to national economic development.
The writer is chief scientific officer at BARI
