The Cross River State Government, in partnership with multinational agribusiness company JR Farms, has officially launched a large-scale coffee farming initiative, distributing 30 million coffee seedlings across all 18 local government areas within the state.
The project is part of a broader strategy to revive coffee production in Nigeria and position Cross River as a leading hub for the crop in West Africa.
The flag-off ceremony which was held on Thursday in Calabar, drew participation from government officials, agricultural stakeholders, representatives of JR Farms, and the French government, the French Government pledged their support for the initiative.
Governor Bassey Otu speaking at the event, stated that the program is more than just a farming project.
“With 30 million robust and climate-appropriate seedlings being distributed across our 18 local government areas, this project offers much more than cultivation. It is about creating jobs, generating wealth, building sustainable livelihoods, promoting agro-industrial development, and restoring our ecological balance.”
He praised the partnership with JR Farms, highlighting the company’s technical capacity and market reach.
“Through their involvement, we are assured of technical support, market access, and international best practices in every aspect of implementation,” Otu said.
Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi, CEO of JR Farms, said the project marked a milestone in Nigeria’s coffee sector.
“After nine years of working in the coffee value chain across East Africa, I am glad to bring that experience back home.”
He confirmed that 11,000 farmers have already been onboarded under the project, which will provide training in agronomy, ethical practices, and the economics of coffee farming using a Train-the-Trainer model.
JR Farms will also establish coffee washing stations throughout Cross river state and train farmers on harvesting, sorting, fermenting, and drying techniques.
In addition, the company has made the commitment to purchase coffee produced in the state, which will support local farmers by providing them with market access and connecting them to global buyers.
“We will also, through global platforms and media publications, actively push stories of Cross River Coffee to the world to wet the appetite of coffee lovers globally,” Rotimi said.
He also acknowledged the French Embassy’s role in supporting coffee production in Nigeria and revealed ongoing collaboration to acquire a coffee roasting machine to enhance local value addition.
Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, emphasised the project’s potential to transform the state’s economy.
He stated that the government had conducted a comprehensive farmer enumeration process before the launch and would distribute high-quality Robusta and Arabica seedlings based on ecological suitability across the state.
According to Ebokpo, “the project goes beyond coffee production to wealth creation for farmers, attracting sustainable investment, empowering communities, promoting fair trade and ethical practices, building a green economy, and advancing value chain development.”
With government backing and international collaboration, the initiative is set to reposition Cross River and Nigeria on the global coffee map, while empowering local farmers and driving inclusive economic growth.
