A total of 82 agricultural extension officers in Cross River State have been trained in modern coffee farming techniques by JR Farms, in partnership with the Cross River State Government.
The training, which held across the three senatorial districts from July 15 to 19, 2025 came just two weeks after the official launch of a joint initiative by JR Farms and the state government to cultivate 30 million coffee seedlings.
The move is part of the company’s effort in partnership with the Cross River State Government to revive and expand coffee production in Nigeria, with the State leading the charge under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.
Led by Mr. Aduragbemi Victor Fasakin, Project Manager at JR Farms Group, the training adopted a Train-the-Trainer (ToT) model aimed at empowering the extension workers to transfer the knowledge to farmers in their respective local communities.
Divided into theoretical and practical sessions, the training covered key topics such as the introduction to coffee trees with a focus on Arabica and Robusta coffee, field establishment and site selection, land preparation, transplanting techniques, management of young coffee, post-planting care, irrigation, weed control, intercropping, and pest and disease management.
Fasakin disclosed that participants also received hands-on training in coffee seedling planting techniques and de-suckering methods related to pruning, adding that the sessions were designed to provide a holistic understanding of both the science and art of coffee cultivation.
According to him, feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing readiness to implement the practices learned and assist local farmers in boosting coffee yields.
He, however, recommended the establishment of a follow-up mechanism to monitor the trainees’ progress and provide ongoing support, while also stressing the importance of timely seedling distribution and the setup of community demonstration farms in each LGA to promote continued learning and peer support.
The Founder and CEO of JR Farms, Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi said the training, which is in its first phase, forms part of his company’s commitment to offering technical support for coffee farming in Cross River State.
“We are not only teaching them how to farm coffee but also how to train others, ensuring the knowledge spreads effectively across communities. This training aligns with the Cross River government’s agricultural drive under Governor Bassey Otu, who is championing a coffee revolution aimed at positioning Cross River as a leading coffee-producing hub in West Africa,” he noted.
The Cross River State government, in partnership with a multinational agribusiness company, JR Farms, is set to lead Nigeria’s coffee revolution with the launching of an initiative to cultivate 30 million coffee seedlings across the state, marking a bold step toward reviving and expanding coffee production in the country.
The flag-off of the project which held on Thursday in Calabar, brought together key government officials, agricultural stakeholders, representatives of JR Farms, and officials of the French government, who came to witness the launch of what is expected to become one of the largest coffee cultivation projects in West Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Bassey Otu, described the initiative as a strategic move to reintroduce and reposition Cross River as the coffee capital of Nigeria and an emerging player in the international coffee market.
“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, building sustainable livelihoods, promoting agro-industrial development, and restoring our ecological balance.
“We are particularly proud of the strategic partnership with JR Farms, whose global footprint in the agrifood space and expertise in coffee value chains bring tremendous value to this initiative. Through their involvement, we are assured of technical support, market access, and international best practices in every aspect of implementation,” Otu said.
The governor commended farmers, women, youth, and traditional institutions in the state for embracing the project with open arms, saying their commitment gave him confidence that the initiative would flourish. He added that the project reflected his administration’s resolve to diversify the state’s economy, fight rural poverty, and create a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural ecosystem.
Founder and CEO of JR Farms, Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi, expressed delight at the re-emergence of coffee production in Nigeria, noting that after nine years of working in the coffee value chain across East Africa, engaging over 4,000 farmers and exporting coffee to various parts of the world, he was glad to bring that experience back home.
Olawale, who commended the Cross River state government’s commitment to agricultural development, said the 30 million coffee seedling cultivation project would engender prosperity for the people, ensure rural development, create jobs for youth and women, and place the state on the global map of coffee production.
The JR Farms CEO disclosed that with years of operations in Nigeria, Rwanda, France, and Zambia, his company would deploy its extensive wealth of experience in coffee production and global marketing to ensure the long-term success of the project and help Cross River become a major player in the international coffee market.
“We will offer technical support by training by farmers across the state using the Train-the-Trainer approach. This training will cover the agronomy practices for coffee, ethical practices, and economics of coffee production for the first phase. 11,000 farmers have already been on boarded under the project.
“We will also open a 3-way line of communication between us, the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, and the farmers to ensure quick technical support for farmers who may be facing post-planting challenges,” he noted.
He revealed that, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, his firm would establish coffee washing stations in different parts of the state, which he said would serve farmers after harvest, adding that “after washing stations are built, we will have another layer of training to support farmers on harvesting, sorting, washing, fermenting, and drying, among others.”
Speaking further, Rotimi said JR Farms would also develop and hand over to the Cross River government an implementable framework to access the global market as part of efforts to ensure farmers in the state get value for their investment and effort.
“We are also committed to off-taking coffee produced across the State to meet the rising global market that we have. We will also, through global platforms and media publications, actively push stories of Cross River Coffee to the world to wet the appetite of coffee lovers globally,” he said.
Olawale also appreciated the French Embassy in Nigeria, which was represented at the event by its Senior Trade Specialist, Valor Iduh, for its continued support toward his company and coffee production in Nigeria. He disclosed that the Embassy was working with his firm to secure a coffee roasting machine for Nigeria as part of the broader plan to strengthen local value addition.
Also speaking, the Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, said the flag-off ceremony followed a rigorous enumeration process that recorded massive participation of men, women, and youth farmers across the State.
He disclosed that 30 million high-quality Robusta and Arabica seedlings would be distributed and cultivated based on ecological suitability across the 18 local government areas of the State.
Ebokpo, who said the state government’s commitment to repositioning agriculture was deliberate, unwavering, and strategic, emphasised that “the project goes beyond coffee production to wealth creation for farmers, attracting sustainable investment, empowering communities, promoting fair trade and ethical practices, building a green economy, and advancing value chain development.”
A Nigerian-owned agribusiness firm, JR Farms, has entered a partnership with the Cross River Government to develop a 30,000-hectare coffee plantation across the 18 local government areas of the state over the next five years.
The Founder of JR Farms, Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi, in a statement, explained the initiative was aimed at expanding the coffee value chain and position Cross River as a key player in Nigeria’s coffee production.
According to him, his firm will work with the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development on the initiative, which is to begin in the coming months.
In preparation for the commencement of the initiative, he with Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo and other relevant stakeholders, visited some communities in the State where they had engagements with farmers and local authorities.
Olawale, who met with the Acting Governor, Dr. Peter Odey, last Friday to discuss the initiative, highlighted its potential to boost coffee production in Nigeria, adding that the partnership aligns with his company’s mission to revolutionise agribusiness through sustainable partnerships and impactful investments.
“We are excited about this collaboration with the Cross River State Government. Coffee production presents a significant opportunity for economic transformation, and by leveraging Cross River’s rich agricultural resources, we aim to establish a robust coffee value chain that benefits local farmers and the broader economy.
“As a state with both high lands and flat lands, temperate climate, good soil, water bodies and large agrarian communities, Cross River is uniquely positioned to grow both Arabica and Robusta coffee and become a leading coffee producer and exporter in Nigeria,” he stated.
The JR Farms CEO, however, revealed the initiative would commence with the cultivation of Arabica coffee in Boki and Obanliku local government areas as these regions possess the necessary highlands and favorable climatic conditions for optimal coffee growth.
On his part, Hon. Ebokpo expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance the state’s agricultural output, create employment opportunities, attract investment in the coffee production industry and position Cross River as leading producer of high-quality coffee beans in Nigeria.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to fostering collaborations that drive economic growth and sustainable development.
“The development of a 30,000-hectare coffee plantation will not only boost Cross River’s agricultural economy but also create jobs for thousands of our people, especially in rural communities. We are committed to supporting initiatives that enhance our state’s economic diversification,” he said.
