By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, NCTAN, has backed Cross River State’s seven-year coffee development roadmap.
The association described the plan as “one capable of transforming livelihoods and boosting the country’s non-oil exports.”
National President of the association, Dr. Hassan Usman, made the endorsement yesterday at a media parley with journalists at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre Calabar.
Usman stated that the association’s research confirms the state’s potential for commercial coffee production.
He said, “The association has carried out research across several communities in Cross River, including Boki and Obudu, confirming the state’s suitability for commercial coffee production.”
He stressed that the association’s continued support for the state government’s efforts will remain to ensure the programme succeeds.
Usman averred that the initiative targets grassroots farmers, adding that the planned distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings will empower about 28,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, while creating employment opportunities across the coffee value chain.”
He maintained that focusing on women and youths is part of broader efforts to deepen inclusion in agriculture.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, said that the programme, tagged the ‘Coffee Revolution’ has full backing from the state government.
Ebokpo said, “The Otu’s administration has given approval for distribution of 30 million coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers” to cover about 27,000 hectares between 2024 and 2032.
He added, “The first phase began in 2025 with one million seedlings.
“The state will now commence the distribution of four million seedlings during the current planting season.”
He also noted that women make up the majority of registered coffee farmers following advocacy by the Office of the state First Lady.
Ebokpo explained that the roadmap rests on “institutional reforms, production, post-harvest management, marketing, access to finance and sustainability.”
He enthused, “Arabica coffee will be cultivated in the Obudu, Bekwarra and parts of Boki highlands, while Robusta will be grown across other parts of the state.”
The government is also pursuing “the establishment of a Coffee Development Agency” and “the creation of a Coffee Commodity Exchange to connect farmers directly with buyers.”
He added, “The vision is to diversify our income base, improve livelihoods and create a new export value chain that will generate wealth for our people.”
In his remarks, the Cross River State Assembly member representing Ikom 1 state constituency, Hon. Samuel Neji Abang, said that the state House of Assembly is working on a bill that would support the coffee project, adding that the bill is at the second reading stage in the House of Assembly.
Development partner for the coffee project and the Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, Blessing Nanman, stated that five million coffee seedlings have already been raised for the first phase of the project, adding that her organization is fully prepared to provide technical assistance for the project.
