In a concerted effort to boost the coffee industry in Cross River State, the Government had entered a collaborative agreement with a French Coffee Firm called JR farms to develop and strengthen the coffee value chain. It is on this note that the CRS Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, is distributing 1 million high-yielding Arabica and Robusta coffee species at a subsidized rate of ₦1,000 per seedling.
The initiative is to provide farmers with access to high quality seedlings that are high yielding. It also provides an opportunity for farmers to earn alternative income during the off-peak season. This will also help the state to earn foreign exchange as well as create jobs for our teeming population.
An allocation model based on elevation, climate factors, and soil quality was developed to ensure an equitable distribution of the seedlings across the 18 LGAs.
The Arabica specie grows optimally in highland areas, while the Robusta specie grows well in lowland areas.
Consequently, a team of 56 enumerators are currently being trained to profile prospective coffee farmers and organize them into cooperatives under a uniform service delivery model. The full-scale enumeration exercise is to begin on 1st of June, 2025. During this period, the enumerators will conduct a door-to-door profiling exercise, after which farmers are to take part in the state-facilitated distribution of seedlings. Interested farmers are encouraged to register their interest through the Office of the Agricultural Coordinators in their respective LGAs or visit the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development Headquarters, Calabar.
To ensure sustainability, various Committees will be inaugurated to monitor and evaluate the usage and output of the seedlings.
The Ministry therefore urges the general public to get involved and harness this unique opportunity for our general shared prosperity.
Hon. Johnson A. Ebokpo (KSM)
Commissioner for Agriculture & Irrigation Development
