Abu Elias Saddam, Nalitabari (Sherpur)

"Tulip Coffee Farming and Roastery" owned by agriculturist Sajjad Hossain Tulip in Nalitabari Upazila of Sherpur is going to achieve incredible success by producing, expanding cultivation, roasting and marketing coffee seedlings as the only company in the country.

In the wake of tourism, farmers in 'Garo Pahari' area of Nalitabari Upazila, dependent on the sole cultivation of paddy surrounded by the fragrance of tulsi garlands, have started to find success in coffee cultivation. Coffee cultivation in Nalitabari agriculture is a tool to fulfill the dreams of farmers.

Agriculturist Sajjad Hossain Tulip is working as an ambassador of agricultural prosperity of Nalitabari to realize this dream.

Tulip completed her Masters in Biotechnology from Bangladesh Agricultural College and started her career as an Agriculture Officer at the internationally renowned Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bangladesh. Later, while working in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region as the in-charge of the tobacco project in the country's renowned Abul Khair Group, he came to the notice of the fancy coffee cultivation in Darjeeling neighborhood of Ruma Upazila of Bandarban. Agriculturist Tulip started researching coffee cultivation from there.

After a long research, he chose the Garo hills of Sherpur and the plains of this region as suitable places for coffee cultivation. Although suitable for coffee cultivation in Chittagong Hill Tracts, success is difficult to come by. The reason is that due to the effect of excessive rain and excessive drought in the mountainous regions, coffee production is not possible as expected. Apart from this, inaccessible transportation system, extortion by various radical terrorist organizations are the main obstacles to the success of entrepreneurs.

Tulip left his job and founded Tulip Coffee Farming and Roastery in his native Nalitabari. In 2021, he bought 5 kg of coffee from Lal Liang Bong's plantation in the mountainous area and started producing seedlings. The seedlings were experimentally distributed free of charge in Haluaghat of Mymensingh, Nalitabari and Jhenaigati upazilas of Sherpur and among some farmers in Bandarban. After that, Tulip Coffee Farming and Roastery distributed free coffee seedlings to the farmers in 2022. By 2024, the seedlings are now ready to produce full fruit. Even after collecting coffee from those farmers, the company is now roasting it in its own machine and marketing it.

Coffee seedlings are being distributed to entrepreneurs every year as part of a plan to provide about two lakh seedlings free of cost in the next two years to bring the unused land of Garo Hills under cultivation with the aim of expanding and commercializing coffee cultivation in Bangladesh. About 15-20 thousand saplings have been distributed so far. These seedlings will start bearing fruit in the next two years. Meanwhile, farmers are being informed about planting and care through training from Nalitabari Upazila Agriculture Officer's office. And Tulip Coffee Farming & Roastery offers a helpful book on coffee farming.

The reason for increasing interest in coffee cultivation is that coffee cultivation does not require any additional land. Coffee can be grown in any shaded area as a companion crop in any home garden. Farmers do not have to go anywhere to sell the coffee they produce. Because Tulip Coffee Farming and Roastery buys the coffee cherry itself at a fair price. Farmers are very happy to get marketing and right price.

The country requires an average of 600 kg of coffee beans per day, which is entirely dependent on imports.

Although there are 60 species of coffee in the world, only two are commercially cultivated. Tulip Coffee Farming & Roastery has started cultivating Arabica and Robusta varieties of coffee for commercial cultivation. However, Tulip Coffee Farming and Roastery said Arabica coffee is more suitable for the climate of Bangladesh.

It is expected that if the desired yield and the commercial route are smooth, it will be possible to meet the needs of the country and export abroad. Because the coffee produced in the country is heartier in taste and smell as well as less in quantity than the imported coffee.

Coffee saplings look a bit like cedar saplings. Each mature plant begins to flower between February and mid-April.

Between the months of May and June, the flowers turn into fruits. The fruit ripens between mid-October to December. After that they should be dried in the sun. Coffee beans need to be ground by machines to make it suitable for marketing and drinking coffee. Again, seedlings can be produced from coffee seeds.

If the yield is good and the weather is favorable, it is possible to get 5-7 kg of coffee per plant. The price of coffee per kg is 80-100 taka. And 600-700 trees can be planted per acre. As such, at least 3000 to 5000 kg of coffee yield is obtained from 600 coffee trees annually. The minimum market value of which can be around 2 lakh 40 thousand to 5 lakh taka.

That is why there is a great enthusiasm among the farmers in coffee cultivation. But coffee
The doors of fortune will be opened for the coffee farmers of the region if they get technical support in cultivation.

Freedom fighter Jalal Uddin, a coffee farmer of Ramachandrakura village, said, "Two years ago I planted 54 seedlings for free. This year 50 trees have fruit. I want to plant more seedlings. Because coffee is the grain of pearl in our world of scarcity.

Monir Hossain, a farmer of Karyatli village in Haluaghat, said, I have planted four hundred coffee seedlings of free Arabica and Robusta varieties. This year about 250 trees have produced coffee fruit. We hope to sell 2 to 3 kg of coffee from each tree initially.

The owner of Tulip Coffee Farming and Roastery, agriculturist Sajjad Hossain Tulip said, people of our region only believe in paddy production. I have researched for a long time and found that there is great potential for coffee cultivation in both the Garo hills and plains of Sherpur. So I am just trying to play a role as an agriculturist to enrich agriculture in the fortunes of farmers in my area. The region is widely known for its tourism sector across the country. However, I believe that the perfection in coffee cultivation will bring tourists from all over the country to see coffee plantations in this region like Sylhet.

He also said that if the farmers could be provided with agricultural assistance along with refreshment training on a large scale, then the farmers would be more interested in coffee production.

Along with that, he asked for government support in the production of saplings and said that if the government provides saplings, it is possible to manage the project in more detail.

Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Md Maudud Ahmed said that the soil moisture and fertility of the upazila's hilly areas are very useful for coffee cultivation. Consistent rainfall and soil structure in this region has bright potential for coffee cultivation. We are also in contact with the entrepreneur. We are giving all the advice and support to the farmers in this regard.