Agricultural Production Practices in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Though the economy of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is agro-based, both in terms of GDP and labour employment, CHT agriculture lags behind plain-land agriculture in technology diffusion, market accessibility and livelihood outcomes — yet its potential is enormous. Realising it requires a comprehensive understanding of how farming is actually practised in the region.

Commissioned by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and carried out by the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), the study surveyed 454 households in Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati, alongside key informant interviews and expert consultations. It examines cultivated land and soil quality, irrigation solutions, access to inputs and technology, production costs, jum cultivation, organic methods, crop diversification, post-harvest loss, marketing and value chains, household food security, and the role of women in agriculture.