Rajshahi:Farmers in the Barind tract of Rajshahi have already achieved success in cultivating various fruits, including Malta, oranges, Arabian dates, dragon fruit, coconuts, and pomegranates. This time, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has brought good news for coffee lovers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, with saplings supplied by the DAE, a farmer named Shafiqul Islam has achieved success in coffee cultivation. Hundreds of coffee trees in his garden are now laden with fresh fruits, generating considerable enthusiasm among agricultural officials.
Shafiqul Islam, a resident of Jotgarib village in Mundumala Municipality under Tanore Upazila, previously lived in Chapainawabganj district but has now settled in the Barind region. After spending many years abroad, he started a mixed fruit orchard five years ago. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and tree plantation, he secured first place in the individual category of the National Tree Plantation Award 2025 and received the award from the Prime Minister.
Shafiqul has established orchards featuring various kinds of fruit trees on about 40 bighas of land, dedicating about 50 decimals to coffee cultivation. Although he planted 130 coffee saplings three years ago, the trees started bearing fruit last year. He harvested about 42 kilograms of coffee for the first time last year and expects this year's production to reach five maunds.
The DAE has constructed a permanent processing facility for Shafiqul and provided him with a processing machine free of cost so that he can process the coffee himself. Inspired by his success, local farmers are showing interest in coffee cultivation, with visitors from different areas coming to see his coffee orchard.
Tanore Upazila Agriculture Officer Saifullah Ahmed stated that coffee cultivation could provide farmers in the Barind region with an additional source of income. As coffee trees do not require much additional space, they can easily be grown under the shade of fruit trees in existing orchards. He expressed hope that expanding coffee cultivation in the Barind region would help meet the country's growing demand for coffee.