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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has announced the distribution of 30 million subsidized coffee seedlings to smallholder farmers as part of a seven-year strategic plan to develop the coffee value chain in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, who disclosed this in Calabar, said the initiative will cover 27,000 hectares of farmland.
He described the coffee revolution as a key component of Governor Bassey Otu’s ‘People First’ policy, which he said will offer long-term opportunities for Cross Riverians
“There was a need to diversify into coffee development because of its relatively short gestation period compared to other tree crops,” the Commissioner said.
He explained that five million seedlings will be distributed in the first phase. The ministry has already completed farmers’ enumeration and established a Tree Crop Development Agency to manage the program.
According to him, the coffee will be grown sustainably. “We will ensure coffee is not grown within forest reserves and only in traceable areas. Cross River is pioneering this initiative in the country,” he stated.
The Commissioner added that the state will control the process to generate revenue even at the local government level, ensure the coffee has a distinct flavor profile for proper marketing, and set up a coffee commodity exchange.
He also disclosed plans to create jobs through coffee tourism, where visitors from across the world can come to taste the unique flavor produced in the state.
Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global Blessing Nanman, the development partners for the project said they have raised over five million coffee seedlings for the first phase of the project.
She added that the partnership with the state will make it the centre of coffee production in Nigeria and also hinted at a planned coffee festival in the state later in the year.
