Abdul Matlab’s Agri Machinery Services: Building Resilience in Coastal Bangladesh

By Kafil Uddin, CIMMYT and Zakaria Hasan, CIMMYT

In Chakaria, a coastal upazila in Cox’s Bazar, farming has long been labor-intensive, costly, and vulnerable to natural calamities. Far from the country’s light engineering hubs, local farmers often struggled to access agricultural machinery and spare parts. Yet, from these challenges emerged the inspiring journey of Md. Abdul Matlab (42), a farmer-turned-entrepreneur who is transforming his community through agricultural mechanization.

Abdul’s turning point came in 2020 when he attended a workshop on modern Agri machinery. The training introduced him and other local farmers to rice transplanters, reapers, and combine harvesters. Inspired, Abdul decided to invest in mechanization. With guidance and technical support, he applied for a government subsidy and successfully acquired his first rice transplanter. This was the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

In just three years, Abdul’s business expanded rapidly. Today, he owns 11 Agri machines – eight rice transplanters, a power thresher, a power tiller, and a seedling machine. His annual income, once limited to the returns from a single acre of farmland, has multiplied many times over. Now, he serves more than 250 acres of farmland annually, benefiting about 100 farmers every season across three crop cycles. His revenue has grown to nearly USD 6,500–7,500 per year, while creating employment for seven machine operators and 15 women engaged in seedling production.

Beyond numbers, Abdul’s success has created a ripple effect. Supported by CIMMYT and inspired by his achievements, other farmers in Chakaria are adopting modern technologies, improving productivity, and reducing losses from unpredictable weather. Abdul has become not only a successful entrepreneur but also a catalyst for agricultural transformation in his community.

Looking ahead, Abdul envisions building a one-stop agricultural service hub, offering transplanting, harvesting, and post-harvest solutions under one roof. His goal is clear: to help farmers increase productivity, secure better incomes, and build resilience against climate shocks.

Md. Abdul Matlab’s story is proof that with determination, training, and access to the right tools, smallholder farmers can rise as leaders of change. His journey from farmer to agripreneur exemplifies how rural entrepreneurship can drive innovation, resilience, and prosperity in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector.