CROSS RIVER UNVEILS SEVEN-YEAR COFFEE ROADMAP TO BOOST ECONOMY

The Cross River State Government has unveiled a seven-year coffee development roadmap aimed at diversifying the state’s economy, boosting non-oil exports and creating thousands of jobs through large-scale coffee production.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, disclosed this on Monday during a chat with journalists in Calabar, where he outlined the state’s strategy for developing a sustainable coffee value chain between 2024 and 2032.

According to him, the initiative, tagged the “Coffee Revolution,” is designed to complement the state’s cocoa industry while positioning Cross River as a major coffee-producing hub in Nigeria and Africa.

He said, “Governor Bassey Otu had approved the distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers over the life of the strategic plan. The programme would cover about 27,000 hectares of farmland. It is designed to complement the state’s cocoa industry while positioning Cross River as a major coffee-producing hub in Nigeria and Africa.”

He explained that the first phase of the project began in 2025 with the distribution of one million seedlings before it was temporarily suspended due to the end of the planting season.

He added that the state would commence the distribution of four million seedlings during the current planting season.

“The vision is to diversify our income base, improve livelihoods and create a new export value chain that will generate wealth for our people,” he said.

The commissioner noted that the roadmap was built around key pillars, including institutional reforms, production, post-harvest management, marketing, access to finance and sustainability.

He added that the state had already undertaken a statewide farmer enumeration exercise, with women constituting the majority of registered coffee farmers following advocacy campaigns supported by the Office of the First Lady.

He stressed that the state’s unique climate and agroecological zones make it suitable for the cultivation of both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties.

“Cross River’s unique climate and agroecological zones make it suitable for the cultivation of both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties. Arabica coffee would be cultivated in Obudu, Bekwarra and parts of the Boki highlands, while Robusta would be grown across other parts of the state,” he explained.

To strengthen the coffee industry, Ebokpo said the government was pursuing institutional reforms, including the establishment of a Coffee Development Agency, amendment of the state’s Produce Law and the creation of a Coffee Commodity Exchange to connect farmers directly with buyers and reduce the role of middlemen.

He said the government was also collaborating with international partners, including Lindsay Global, to provide technical support, improve quality standards and ensure that coffee produced in the state meets premium international market requirements.

The commissioner explained that local government councils would also play a critical role by establishing communal washing and drying stations to preserve coffee quality and improve farmers’ earnings.

Speaking at the event, the National President of the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, Dr Hassan Usman, commended the Cross River State Government for prioritising coffee development, describing the initiative as one capable of transforming livelihoods and boosting the country’s non-oil exports.

Usman said the association had carried out research across several communities in Cross River, including Boki and Obudu, confirming the state’s suitability for commercial coffee production.

He noted that the planned distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings would empower about 28,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, while creating employment opportunities across the coffee value chain.

He pledged the association’s continued support for the state government’s efforts and announced plans to deepen collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the coffee development programme.

“The distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings would empower about 28,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, while creating employment opportunities across the coffee value chain.

“We hereby call for more collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the coffee development programme,” he added.