Tucked away in the lush hills of Bandarban, Kishanghar Agro, a modest cashew processing company, is quietly rewriting the story of hill agriculture in Bangladesh.
Surrounded by rolling green landscapes, the factory hums with activity as 15-20 women, mostly from local hill communities, sort and process cashew nuts. For many of them, this small enterprise is more than a workplace – it’s a new beginning.
Once engaged in traditional jum (shifting) cultivation, many hill farmers are now turning to cashews and coffee – crops that promise not only better incomes but also a sustainable future. What was once a subsistence lifestyle is now evolving into a commercial agricultural model, bringing with it a ripple effect on livelihoods, local economies, and even national exports.
From shifting cultivation to sustainable crops
On the ground in Bandarban, a transformation is clearly underway. The hills, once dominated by seasonal jum farming, are now dotted with cashew and coffee plantations. This shift is being driven by the Cashew and Coffee Research, Development and Extension Project, a government-backed initiative launched in June 2021.
The project, led by Shahidul Islam, its director, spans 66 upazilas across 19 districts, with a vision to expand cashew cultivation from 2,200 hectares to 1,00,000 hectaresin the hill regions alone. Coffee, too, is being eyed for large-scale planting on an equal scale.
“Ninety-eight percent of hill land remains uncultivated,” Shahidul claims. “This is a massive opportunity. Cashew and coffee are high-value crops that can thrive in this terrain. With proper planning, we can unlock economic growth and food security for the hill communities.”
A model for economic and social change
Cashew and coffee are not just crops - they are economic toolsreshaping the lives of hill people. These crops require minimal maintenance once established and offer farmers a stable and profitable income.
One local farmer shared his experience: “I get Tk 200 per kg for unprocessed cashew nuts and Tk 400-600 for coffee bean. Compare that to Tk 40 for a kilogram of mangoes. Of course, we’re moving toward these crops.”
Farmers are not only switching to cashews and coffee but are also receiving free seedlings and training from the project. This support has made it easier for marginal farmers to make the transition.
MM Shah Neyaz, Deputy Director of the Bandarban District Agricultural Extension Department, told Jago News, “Given the climate and topography of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, cashew and coffee are ideal crops. We are actively involving poor and small farmers through this project to boost their incomes and livelihoods.”
Economic impact and export potential
The implications go beyond local communities. Cashew and coffee cultivation is being positioned as a catalyst for broader economic and environmental progress.
- Cashew production has already doubled from 2,200 to 4,200 hectares of land under cultivation.
- The government aims to bring 2,00,000 hectares of hill land under these crops – 1,00,000 hectares for cashew and another 1,00,000 for coffee.
- The project also envisions $1 billion in export revenue from these crops in the coming years.
Bangladesh’s domestic demand for cashews is booming. The current market size is valued at Tk 700 crore annually, yet local production covers only Tk 100 crore. The remaining Tk 600 crore worth of cashews, about 2,500-3,000 tonnes annually, are imported, a gap that local production aims to fill.
Similarly, coffee demand has grown by 56 per cent over the last decade, with Tk 600 crore worth of coffee consumed domestically each year. Local production, though still small, is growing steadily.
New entrepreneurs, new factories
The rise in cashew and coffee production has also given birth to a new wave of agribusinesses. In recent years, 22 cashew processing companies have emerged across the country, with 15 now in active production, capable of processing 10,000-12,000 tonnes of cashew annually.
Tariqul Islam, Managing Director of Kishanghar Agro, shared how his company has grown from working with 120 farmers to supporting 950 cashew producers in just a few years.
“We do everything from cultivation to processing,” he said. “With rising demand both locally and abroad, we’re confident that cashew can become a major export crop.”
Large corporate groups are also taking notice. Companies like PRAN, BSRM, and the Kazi Group are investing around Tk 300 crore in processing facilities in special economic zones, creating 1,500 jobs and boosting export potential.
Climate-resilient and future-ready
Beyond economics, the shift to cashews and coffee is being viewed as a climate-resilient agricultural model. These crops are known for their low water usage, soil conservation benefits, and long-term viability – making them ideal for the fragile hill ecosystem.
Experts believe that this transformation can help achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – from poverty reduction and job creation to climate action and sustainable agriculture.
“Cashew and coffee are more than just crops,” said Shahidul Islam. “They are tools for change -tools that can empower hill communities, strengthen food systems, and open new doors for export.”
A global market awaits
In the global market, Bangladeshi cashew and coffee are gaining recognition. The Arabica and Robusta varieties of coffee grown in the hills are already attracting interest from international buyers.
With the right investment in processing and branding, Bangladesh could soon become a regional supplier of premium hill-grown coffee and cashew, reducing import dependency and boosting foreign exchange.
The hills of Bandarban are no longer silent. They are alive with the promise of a new agricultural era - one that is not only economically viable but also socially empowering and environmentally sustainable.
From neglected hill women finding work in processing units to jum farmers becoming cashew entrepreneurs, the transformation is real.
As the government and private sector continue to invest in this green revolution, one thing is clear: Bangladesh’s hill agriculture is no longer stuck in the past - it’s planting the seeds for a brighter, more prosperous future.