The Cross River State Government says it will distribute 30 million coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers to cultivate about 27,000 hectares under a seven-year coffee development strategy targeted for 2033.
Mr Johnson Ebokpo, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, made the remark at a press conference in Calabar on Tuesday.
Ebokpo described the initiative as the state’s “coffee revolution,” saying it aims to diversify the state’s export base beyond cocoa and boost internally generated revenue through sustainable coffee production.
He said the government approved the phased distribution of the 30 million seedlings, starting with five million, to support smallholder farmers across the state.
According to him, about one million seedlings were distributed in 2025 before the exercise was suspended due to the late planting season.
“Distribution of the remaining four million seedlings will commence immediately after farmers’ enumeration and mobilisation across the state,” he said.
Ebokpo said Arabica coffee would be cultivated in the Obudu, Obanliku and parts of Boki highlands, while Robusta would be grown across the remaining local government areas.
He said the state developed a coffee roadmap anchored on institutions, production, post-production, marketing, finance, sustainability and global quality standards.
The commissioner added that the government is establishing a Tree Crops Development Agency, amending the Produce Law and creating a coffee commodity exchange to improve market access.
Ebokpo said partnerships with international organisations and research institutions would strengthen seed multiplication, processing, traceability and compliance with global market requirements.
He emphasised that the programme targets women and youths, noting that women constitute the majority of enumerated coffee farmers following mobilisation by the Office of the First Lady.
He added that Cross River’s agricultural traceability system would ensure coffee is produced sustainably outside forest reserves, in line with European Union deforestation regulations.
Also speaking, Dr Hassan Kakara, National President of the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, said the initiative could create jobs and revive Nigeria’s coffee industry.
Kakara added that it would improve farmers’ incomes through sustainable production and stronger stakeholder collaboration.
On his part, Mr Bette Obi, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture in the State Assembly, said the two executive bills on agriculture sent to the House had passed second reading and were at the committee stage.
Represented by Mr Neji Abang, Member representing Ikom 1 State Constituency, Obi said the bills seek to amend the state’s Produce Law and establish a Tree Crop Development Agency.
He urged youths to embrace the coffee revolution to improve their economic situation.
