Rangpur: After succeeding in cultivating, producing, processing, and popularizing coffee on his own initiative, young entrepreneur Md. Mokhlesur Rahman now dreams of making Bangladesh self-sufficient in coffee production.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mokhlesur was inspired by a Facebook video about successful coffee farming in the Chattogram Hill Tracts while working for a private company in Cumilla in 2015. Motivated by this, he attempted the same on the plain lands of Taraganj upazila in northern Bangladesh, eventually starting his coffee farming journey in 2017.
Mokhlesur has already achieved significant success, earning profits and popularizing coffee cultivation across the northern region. His efforts began in the remote village of Goalbari in Soyar union of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur district, where daily visitors enjoy the beauty of his coffee orchard, which houses 450 coffee trees on just 20 decimals of land.
The visitors, including students, teachers, army officers, and foreigners, savor the coffee Mokhlesur produces, processes, and prepares in various flavors at his ‘Rangpur Coffee Club’ situated next to the plantation. Despite his achievements and reputation, Mokhlesur’s primary focus remains on reducing coffee imports and achieving self-sufficiency in coffee production in Bangladesh.
Mokhlesur, the second among four sons, was born into a well-off family. He pursued education rigorously, obtaining a master’s degree in political science from Carmichael College in 2014. Initially, he worked at RFL Company but left to focus on coffee farming after a news story about his success led to a conflict with his employers.
His journey in coffee farming began with challenges, including the loss of 350 seedlings due to raw fertilizers. Despite these setbacks, Mokhlesur learned through research and determination. By 2019, he was able to collect and process his first batch of coffee. However, he faced difficulties in meeting buyer demands, which motivated him to market his product directly to customers.
Over the years, Mokhlesur’s coffee production increased steadily, and he expanded his venture by selling coffee seedlings to farmers across the country. His efforts have inspired others to start their own coffee plantations, furthering the movement toward self-sufficiency.
Mokhlesur’s achievements include establishing the ‘Rangpur Coffee Club’ in 2020, where he sells coffee and engages with the community. His vision for the future includes setting up a modern coffee processing industry in collaboration with the government and foreign experts to produce high-quality coffee, create jobs, and strengthen the national economy.
Md. Afzal Hossain, Acting Additional Director of the Agricultural Extension Department of Rangpur region, emphasized the potential of popularizing coffee and establishing modern factories to enhance its cultivation and benefit farmers.