The Cross River State Government has unveiled plans to develop coffee farming on a large scale as part of efforts to diversify the state’s economy, increase non-oil exports and improve the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers.
The initiative, christened the “Coffee Revolution,” is a key component of Governor Bassey Otu’s economic diversification agenda aimed at reducing the state’s dependence on traditional revenue sources.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Andiambey, disclosed this during a press briefing in Calabar, where he unveiled the state’s coffee development roadmap and outlined strategies for building a sustainable coffee value chain.
Andiambey said the state government had approved the distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers over a seven-year period, adding that the programme would cover about 27,000 hectares of farmland.
He explained that the first phase of the programme commenced in 2025 with the distribution of one million seedlings before it was suspended due to the end of the planting season. He added that the government would now distribute an additional four million seedlings during the current planting season.
The commissioner said the roadmap was built on key pillars, including institutional reforms, production, post-harvest management, marketing, access to finance and sustainability, noting that the state was working with local and international partners to ensure the success of the initiative.
He disclosed that a statewide farmer enumeration exercise had already been conducted, with women making up the majority of registered beneficiaries following mobilisation efforts supported by the Office of the First Lady.
According to him, Cross River’s favourable climate and diverse ecological zones make it suitable for the cultivation of both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties, with Arabica earmarked for the Obudu and Bekwarra highlands and parts of Boki, while Robusta will be cultivated across other parts of the state.
Andiambey also said the government was pursuing legislative reforms, including the establishment of a Coffee Development Agency, amendments to the state’s Produce Law and the creation of a Coffee Commodity Exchange to connect farmers directly with buyers and improve earnings.
He added that local government councils would be encouraged to establish communal coffee washing and drying stations to maintain quality standards and enhance the competitiveness of Cross River coffee in the international market.
Speaking at the briefing, the National President of the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, Dr Hassan Usman, commended the Cross River State Government for reviving coffee production, describing the initiative as a major step toward expanding Nigeria’s non-oil economy.
Usman said the association’s research had confirmed Cross River’s suitability for commercial coffee cultivation and expressed confidence that the programme would create jobs and improve incomes for thousands of women and youths.
He noted that about 28,000 smallholder farmers were expected to benefit from the distribution of the 30 million seedlings and pledged the association’s support for the successful implementation of the programme.