Positioning Coffee Cultivation for Revenue Generation and Export
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has projected that Nigeria's coffee output will decline from 40,800 bags annually to 39,900 bags by 2028 if current cultivation trends continue. This stands in stark contrast to continental peers such as Ethiopia and Uganda, which produce 11.1 million bags and 6.9 million bags respectively, earning over $1.4 billion and $2 billion from coffee exports in 2025. Nigeria is not even among Africa's top 10 coffee producers.
The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) expressed concerns over this projection, identifying structural gaps such as abandonment at the base, absence of a national coffee framework, market access gaps, quality gaps, underutilized potential, and fragmentation at scale. These issues have collectively strangled the industry.
At the inauguration of the Nigeria Coffee Revival Initiative (NCRI) Steering Committee, facilitated by COCEFAAA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), and 14 coffee-producing states, the Global President of COCEFAAA and National Project Coordinator, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, stated that the initiative aims to restore a displaced legacy with data, discipline, and continental solidarity. He said: "Coffee, like cocoa, is a continental crop. Africa accounts for roughly 12.5 per cent of global coffee production, down from 27.2 per cent in the 1970s. That 14.5-percentage-point collapse did not happen by accident. It happened because African coffee farmers were abandoned by policy, investment, and institutional representation."
COCEFAAA was initially positioned to close that gap for cocoa, and expanding to include coffee was an institutional responsibility. The organization advocates for, supports, coordinates, and amplifies the voice of both cocoa and coffee farmers across Africa. Citing the Perfect Daily Grind 2021, which estimates 10,000 smallholder coffee farmers in Nigeria across 14 states, Adegoke noted that they account for 90 per cent of all coffee exports. However, over 90 per cent of these farmers cite poor pricing and absence of market information as reasons for reducing or abandoning coffee cultivation. Farms have aged tree stock, soils are nutrient-depleted, and extension services are virtually non-existent.
Through the NCRI, structured farmer support programmes will be established, combining agronomic training, access to certified improved seedlings through CRIN-accredited channels, cooperative formation, and fair pricing frameworks. The initiative will engage the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, CRIN, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, and 14 coffee-producing states to advocate for a Nigeria Coffee Sector Development Policy that incentivizes local production, regulates import substitution, and creates an enabling environment for private investment.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasized that the global coffee market is experiencing unprecedented dynamics, with specialty and organic coffee sectors booming. He stressed that revitalizing Nigeria's coffee industry is a strategic imperative for sustainable economic growth, export development, and climate resilience. The country's economic reality demands diversification away from crude oil, and revitalizing the coffee sector offers an immediate remedy to rural poverty and unemployment. Kyari stated: "Coffee is not just a crop; it is a massive value chain. By investing heavily in both Arabica and Robusta production, we can create millions of jobs for youth as modern agronomists, women in post-harvest processing, and tech entrepreneurs building digital supply chains." He added that Nigeria must move away from exporting raw green beans and incentivize local roasteries and processing plants to keep wealth within borders.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, noted that the project aligns with the Federal Government's agenda on economic diversification, increased non-oil exports, job creation, and sustainable agricultural development. She stated that the Steering Committee demonstrates commitment to transforming the sector through improved governance, farm rehabilitation, agronomic best practices, capacity building, value addition, and enhanced market access. NEPC remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote export competitiveness, improve product quality, certification, and expand market opportunities for Nigerian agricultural commodities.
