Mominur Islam started cultivating tea at Dangapara village in Dinajpur's Khansama upazila two years ago.
Thanks to hard work, dedication and persistence , the farmer is now gradually reaping the benefits of his tea farming.
In November 2018, Mominur planted tea saplings on one acre of land. Six months later, leaves were plucked for the first harvest of just one kilogram.
However, this year the farmer has so far plucked 3,030 kilograms of tea leaves from his tea garden. He sold leaves to Popular Tea Factory in Panchagarh at Tk 14 per kilogram.
With encouraging results, the farmer is already thinking of expanding his tea plantation.
"In the coming days, I could pluck more leaves as the trees are going to be more mature. I will cultivate tea on much more land, "said Mominur.
Bangladesh's burgeoning tea industry dates back to British colonial times when large tea plantations were introduced in Sylhet and Chittagong.
Till 2000, all tea estates were in greater Sylhet and in the districts of Brahmanbaria, Chittagong, and Rangamati.
However, considering the geographical proximity of Panchagarh's Tetulia to India's tea region of Darjeeling, some companies started small tea plantations in the northwest tip in 2000, and eventually it expanded to neighbouring Thakurgaon district.
Seeing this success of tea farming in the northern districts and their financial benefits, Mominur tried his luck in tea farming and eventually gained success.
“Tea has bright prospects here as the local geography and climate are favourable, especially because it is not too far from the Himalayas.”
Meanwhile, inspired by Mominur's tea farming, many locals have already started turning their paddy fields into tea gardens in Khansama upazila.
Rajib Islam of Gobindapur village, began cultivating tea on three acres of land four months back. Two families from Neula village will also start planting tea saplings very soon.
Speaking on the matter, upazila agriculture officer Md Afzal Hossain said there is a great prospect for tea farming in Khansama upazila as it is not too far from the Himalayas. The soil and environment of the upazila is fit for tea framing."
"But farmers have to take care of tea bushes with timely irrigation and organic fertilizer," he added.