The Cross River State government has partnered with JR Farms, a Nigerian-owned agribusiness, to launch a project of establishing a 30,000-hectare coffee plantation across all 18 local government areas over the next five years.
In a statement, Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi, founder of JR Farms, explained that his company will collaborate closely with the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development to develop the state’s agricultural sector.
During preparatory meetings, Olawale Rotimi-Opeyemi, alongside Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, and other relevant stakeholders, visited several local communities across the state.
Olawale explained that they engaged with farmers and local authorities to discuss the forthcoming initiative and gather support for its successful implementation.
Speaking on the importance of the project, Olawale emphasized that this partnership would not only boost coffee production but also create an ecosystem of sustainable jobs for local farmers.
“The project will begin in the Boki and Obanliku local government areas, where the terrain and climate are perfect for the cultivation of Arabica coffee, ensuring optimal growth conditions,” he added.
In an earlier meeting, the Acting Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Peter Odey, noted that the state’s combination of highlands, fertile soil, and favorable temperate climate makes it an ideal location for growing both Arabica and Robusta coffee.
Also speaking, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, expressed optimism about the project’s impact on Cross River’s agricultural sector.
According to him, the development of a 30,000-hectare coffee plantation would increase the state’s agricultural output, generate thousands of jobs, and attract investments to the coffee production industry.
