Nigeria’s long-neglected coffee and tea industry has regained national attention following a high-level roundtable hosted by Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, at which stakeholders agreed on the urgent need for coordinated action to unlock growth, jobs, and sustainable livelihoods across the value chain.
The two-day forum, organised by the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria (NACOFTAN) in collaboration with TSU and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has brought together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, traditional institutions and farmers to chart a practical roadmap for revitalising the sector.
Held under the theme “Towards Revitalising Nigeria’s Coffee and Tea Value Chains for Growth, Profitability and Sustainability,” the roundtable has examined structural bottlenecks limiting productivity, investment and market access, while spotlighting opportunities for youth employment, export growth and rural development.
Opening the discussions, NACOFTAN President, Dr Hassan Usman Kakakara, has described coffee and tea as mainstream agricultural commodities with strong potential to drive economic diversification and job creation.
He noted that despite favourable agro-ecological conditions, Nigeria continues to underperform in both crops due to weak coordination, limited research investment and low private-sector participation.
Dr Kakakara commended Taraba State University for its leadership role in advancing coffee and tea research and urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue towards collaborative, action-oriented solutions.
According to him, the roundtable is focused on developing implementable strategies, including intercropping models that can reduce production costs and improve farmer resilience.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of TSU, Prof Reuben Jonathan has emphasised that coffee and tea remain critical but underdeveloped segments of Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
He highlighted their capacity to generate employment, attract investment and stimulate value addition if supported by clear policies and sustained stakeholder commitment.
Also speaking, the Director of the CRI-TSU Institute of Tree Crop Research, Dr Patrick K. Kefas, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to research-driven solutions for the sector.
He also described the roundtable as a practical platform for aligning government agencies, financial institutions, farmers, processors and development partners around shared goals.
According to Dr Kefas, revitalising the coffee and tea industry is not only an agricultural priority but an economic and social imperative, closely linked to poverty reduction, youth employment and Nigeria’s broader push to diversify away from oil dependence.
Representatives of the Taraba State Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have participated in the discussions, reinforcing government interest in repositioning the sector.
Royal fathers and traditional leaders have also contributed perspectives on land use, community engagement and farmer mobilisation.
The roundtable has concluded with calls for stronger public–private partnerships, increased research funding, improved access to finance for farmers, and clearer policy frameworks to support production, processing and export competitiveness.
Stakeholders say the outcomes of the forum have the potential to reposition coffee and tea as strategic crops capable of delivering sustainable incomes, foreign exchange earnings and long-term economic value for Nigeria, if commitments translate into coordinated action.
Source: Prof. S.P. Bako
