Real experiences, published anonymously and with permission.
A paneer manufacturer in Thakurgaon, in a Prothom Alo report
Food processingThakurgaon
Paneer-making started in 2012 on 27 litres of milk a day now takes 2,200 litres daily at the main factory and 2,500 more across two others; over 100 workers earn 4,500-5,000 taka a month each and the owner clears 60,000-70,000.
A curd maker in Chakaria, Cox's Bazar, in a Prothom Alo report
Food processingCox's Bazar
A buffalo-curd business started with 130,000 taka now carries 10 lakh taka of capital. Four buffaloes bought two years ago for five lakh taka made it its own milk supplier, and 12-15 shops in the area move about 1,000 pots a day.
A mustard-oil ghani owner in Sunamganj, in a Prothom Alo report
Food processingSunamganj
Mustard oil pressed on a horse-drawn wooden ghani: seed bought at 75-80 taka a kg, three to three and a half lakh taka of it a year, oil sold at 300-350 taka a kg, leaving 30,000-40,000 taka a month after costs.
An online spice seller in Rangunia, Chattogram, in a Prothom Alo report
Food processingChattogram
Spices sold online since 2020 on 8,000 taka of savings now bring about 100,000 taka a month, some 40 lakh taka in total sales and more than 500 regular customers - though every parcel has to be carried into Chattogram city because there is no courier locally.
A tea shop owner in Sherpur, Bogura, in a Prothom Alo report
Food processingBogura
A tea shop opened about 35 years ago on 10,000 taka borrowed by his father now sells 1,000-1,200 cups a day at 5 to 60 taka a cup, and paid for a three-storey house costing 35 lakh taka.
A home baker in Kaptai, Rangamati, in an Ajker Patrika report
Food processingRangamati
Home baking started in 2020 on 2,000-3,000 taka has brought in over a lakh taka so far; the report gives no monthly income or staff numbers.
A pickle maker in Bogura, in an Ajker Patrika report
Food processingBogura
A pickle business begun at home in 2020 with 300 taka now sells about 100 kg of beef pickle a month at 1,000 taka a kg, carries 20 lakh taka of capital, employs 15 people and earns 3-4 lakh taka a month.
A home-based online food seller in Chandpur, in a Prothom Alo report
Food processingChandpur
A home kitchen started online in 2023 with 9,000 taka returned 15,000 taka of profit on the first round. A one-pound vanilla cake costs 250-300 taka to make and sells at 550, and the business now earns 50,000-60,000 taka a month.
A Napier grass grower in Kaliganj, Lalmonirhat, in a BSS report
Agriculture & farmingLalmonirhat
Three bighas moved from paddy to Napier fodder grass now bring 200,000 taka a year. It is cut four to five times a year, one planting lasts four to five years, and bought-feed costs are down about 40 percent.
A woman growing ginger in Narail, in a Protidiner Bangladesh report
Agriculture & farmingNarail
Ten thousand sacks of ginger on about 1.5 acres of low-lying land beside the homestead, at a cost of 650,000 taka. The crop takes nine months; at the time of the report she expected to sell 16-17 lakh taka of ginger, which had not yet been sold.
A summer tomato grower in Tala, Satkhira, in a Prothom Alo report
Agriculture & farmingSatkhira
Summer tomato costs 150,000-180,000 taka a bigha, sells for over 350,000 and nets 150,000-200,000. Wholesale from the field held at 65-70 taka a kilo against 100 taka retail.
A capsicum grower and cooperative chairman in Kumarkhali, Kushtia, in a Prothom Alo report
Agriculture & farmingKushtia
Two bighas of Indra Gold capsicum in 2024 cost 220,000 taka and returned about 400,000 in profit. The following season 30 farmers of the village put roughly 10 lakh taka into 10 bighas between them.
