A revolution is in the offing in Cross River state. The revolution is in the area of production coffee, one of the agricultural products that the state is known for. To make this happen, the State government and JR Farms have partnered to cultivate 30 million coffee seedlings across the state. The objective is aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global coffee market. The project focuses on job creation, rural development, and climate resilience.
The state governor, Bassey Otu described the initiative as a strategic move to reintroduce and reposition Cross River as the coffee capital of Nigeria. He said, “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, and building sustainable livelihoods.”
The CEO of JR Farms, Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi, emphasised the significance of the project, noting that it would engender prosperity, ensure rural development, and create jobs for youth and women. The company plans to train farmers through a “Train-the-Trainer” model and establish coffee washing stations for post-harvest processing.
