A new opportunity has opened up for agriculture in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, where farmers have surprised everyone with their first cultivation of foreign Robusta coffee. This season coffee was grown on a trial basis on 9 hectares of hill land in eight unions of the upazila. Every tree in the gardens has borne some fruit, and the red-brown and green coffee cherries on the trees are delighting farmers and agriculture officials alike. Those involved believe the success takes the agriculture of the upazila, and of the country, a step forward.

According to the upazila agriculture department, Sitakunda's success in farming has always been enviable. Its fertile hill and plain soils have made its many vegetables and fruits famous at home and abroad, and now "success in coffee" has been added to that list. After two years of effort, officials are as happy as the farmers to see coffee on the trees.

One coffee plot lies at least two kilometres into deep jungle east of the PHP Float Glass factory in Barabkunda union, across three hills. It is farmed by Md Shahid on PHP's hill land, and he tends it. Md Shahid said growing coffee in the hills is very difficult.

Setting up a plot costs a great deal at the start. The land belongs to the PHP family, and the garden was built with their interest and overall management and constant support from the agriculture department. Coffee needs a mix of light and shade; too much sun spoils it. So, after much selection, 800 Robusta seedlings were planted on a trial basis on 3 hectares of this hill.

Since the seedlings were planted two years ago, looking after them has taken very hard work, including regular watering and keeping the garden weed-free. Even then they were doubtful whether coffee would succeed. But a while ago the flowers on the trees began to set fruit. Now some trees have flowers and green unripe fruit, while on many the fruit has ripened to a reddish brown. They are very happy to see it.

Md Shahid said: "Md Nazim Uddin, the sub-assistant agriculture officer in charge of Barabkunda union, and upazila agriculture officer Md Habibullah came to the garden regularly and gave advice. They sent government fertiliser, pesticide and other support. Using their advice and these inputs, we got a coffee crop."

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Md Nazim Uddin said: "Only I, farmer Shahid and those involved know how much work it took in sun and rain to make this plot a success. Now seeing the success fills my heart."

Sitakunda upazila agriculture officer Md Habibullah said: "Under the Cashew Nut and Coffee Research, Development and Extension Project, foreign Robusta coffee has been grown on 9 hectares of hill land in Salimpur, Bhatiari, Kumira, Barabkunda, Sonaichhari, Banshbaria and Baraiyadhala unions and the municipality. We have given farmers all-round government support. Now all the gardens have produced coffee. Cultivation may expand in future."

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