Subimal, Promotho and Shanto Chakma grew up in the same neighbourhood and have been friends for more than two decades. In the hill district of Rangamati, the three have started an unusual venture: a factory making chips from jackfruit and banana, which they have named "Hills Bazar".

The Chittagong Hill Tracts have long been known for seasonal fruit. According to the agriculture department, about a tenth of the country's seasonal fruit is grown in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, especially mango, jackfruit, pineapple and year-round banana. For lack of fair prices and marketing, a large share rots every season. To keep the economy moving year-round, the friends buy jackfruit and banana from small growers at fair prices and process them into chips.

In 2022 the three took training from the Postharvest Technology Division of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) on making quality chips from potato, banana, mango and jackfruit using a low-cost vacuum frying machine. In May 2024 they set up a small factory at Assambasti in Rangamati town for about 300,000 taka. BARI provides technical support and a chips-making machine, and Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC provides financial support.

In the factory, jackfruit and banana are fried in oil by the vacuum machine, the oil is then removed by machine, and spices are mixed in before packing. A 25-gram packet sells for 30 taka. They produce about 200 to 250 packets a day and supply local shops, tourist spots and fairs, while the hill e-commerce site Boichitro.com sells them across the country.

Promotho Chakma said much fruit in the Hill Tracts, especially banana and jackfruit, rots and farmers suffer losses, so they decided to process it. They plan to supply beyond the district once they expand. Subimal Chakma said they focus most on jackfruit because it is available in only one season; processing it lets people enjoy it all year, and in future they plan juice, jelly and other foods.

Pollob Chakma, founder of Boichitro.com, said the chips are getting a strong response online. Advocate Mamunur Rashid, president of the Rangamati Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called chips from jackfruit and banana a promising new venture and said the chamber helps such entrepreneurs obtain bank loans.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.