The Cross River State Government has successfully concluded its statewide coffee farmers’ training programme with a one-day workshop for prospective coffee farmers from the Southern Senatorial District.
The training, held at the Calabar Municipal Council Secretariat, was organized by the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development under the leadership of the Commissioner, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, as part of the Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu administration’s commitment to reposition agriculture and promote coffee as a major cash crop in the state.
Welcoming participants, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Prof. John Shiyan, described the workshop as a strategic initiative aimed at equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills required for successful coffee cultivation. He urged participants to maximize the opportunity, noting that coffee production presents enormous economic opportunities for Cross River State.
Resource person and agricultural analyst, Mr. Williams Ifere, highlighted the growing global demand for coffee and explained why coffee production offers greater long-term economic prospects for farmers. He encouraged participants to embrace modern coffee farming techniques to improve productivity and income.
In his keynote address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, explained that the Southern Senatorial District training completed the three-phase statewide programme. He recalled that the exercise began in Bekwarra for the Northern Senatorial District before moving to Ikom for the Central Senatorial District.
According to the Commissioner, the programme represents another significant milestone in the state’s Coffee Revolution, an initiative driven by the visionary leadership of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu to diversify the state’s economy through agriculture and create sustainable livelihoods.
He noted that one of Governor Otu’s first strategic interventions was the establishment of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm, which laid the foundation for the state’s renewed focus on tree crops.
Hon. Ebokpo recalled that Governor Otu officially launched the Cross River State Coffee Revolution last year, signalling a new era for coffee production in the state. To encourage participation, the government reduced the cost of improved coffee seedlings from ₦1,000 to ₦300, making quality planting materials affordable for smallholder farmers.
The Commissioner explained that although seedling distribution commenced last year, it was temporarily suspended due to unfavourable weather conditions to ensure better survival rates. He announced that the distribution of subsidised coffee seedlings will officially resume on July 1, 2026, with the distribution schedule to be released by the Ministry.
He stressed that beyond distributing seedlings, the government is committed to building farmers’ capacity through continuous training on best agronomic practices, including land preparation, planting, field management and maintenance, to ensure maximum productivity.
Hon. Ebokpo further disclosed that the Ministry is collaborating with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to provide technical support and develop practical economic models for coffee production. He added that the proposed Tree Crop Development Agency will further strengthen coffee production by adapting these models to the different agro-ecological zones across the state.
The Commissioner also called on Local Government Chairmen, members of the State and National Assemblies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to embrace the Coffee Revolution by establishing coffee estates and washing stations within their communities. He said such investments would stimulate rural economies, create employment opportunities and attract private sector participation.
He disclosed that plans are underway to establish decentralized coffee nurseries across the Northern, Central and Southern Senatorial Districts. Interested individuals and groups will be trained in nursery development to improve access to quality seedlings across the state.
Describing the Coffee Revolution as a collective responsibility, Hon. Ebokpo encouraged farmers to apply the knowledge gained during the training, nurture their plantations and inspire others to participate in the initiative.
He appreciated development partners, facilitators and stakeholders for supporting the programme, expressing confidence that the initiative would restore Cross River State’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading producers of premium coffee.
Among dignitaries present at the workshop were Hon. Philomena, Hon. Fidelis Efa, the Vice Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Area, Hon. Katame Emilia, and other government officials, stakeholders and agricultural experts.
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