Nigerian Firm Seals ₦81.6bn Coffee Production Deal with Liberia

News in Brief:

—JR Farms Group has signed a ₦81.6 billion coffee development agreement with the Liberian Government aimed at revitalising the country's coffee industry.

—The project will support over 200,000 farmers, establish 250,000 hectares of coffee plantations, plant 200 million coffee trees, and create more than 300,000 jobs.

Nigerian agribusiness company JR Farms Group has entered into an ₦81.6 billion agreement with the Government of Liberia to develop the coffee production and value chain. The move is expected to transform the country's coffee industry and strengthen Africa's position in the global coffee market.

The deal, signed through Liberia's Ministry of Agriculture, is designed to support large-scale coffee cultivation, farmer empowerment, rural development and export growth over the next two decades.

This initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 200,000 farmers and facilitate the development of over 250,000 hectares of coffee plantations across Liberia.

Under the agreement, at least 200 million coffee trees will be planted, creating a foundation for long-term growth in Liberia's coffee sector.

The project is projected to generate more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs across the coffee value chain, including production, processing, logistics, marketing and export activities.

The agreement was signed in Monrovia by Liberia's Minister of Agriculture, Dr J. Alexander Nuetah, and JR Farms Group Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Olawale Rotimi Oyeyemi.

Boost for Liberia's Coffee Industry

Liberia is internationally recognised for its unique Liberica coffee variety and possesses favourable climatic conditions and fertile soils suitable for cultivating Liberica, Arabica and Robusta coffee species.

The Liberian Government has identified coffee as a strategic crop under its agricultural transformation agenda, with plans to strengthen export earnings, create jobs and diversify the national economy.

The partnership also aligns with Liberia's National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), which seeks to establish 15,000 hectares of new coffee farms within the next five years.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah described the agreement as a major milestone for the country's agricultural sector.

"This partnership represents a major opportunity to revive Liberia's coffee sector, empower farmers, create jobs, and unlock new economic opportunities for rural communities across the country," Nuetah stated.

Focus on Farmer Empowerment and Market Access

JR Farms Group said the initiative will go beyond cultivation by developing critical infrastructure and support systems needed to build a sustainable coffee industry.

Planned interventions include establishing coffee nurseries, distributing improved Liberica, Arabica and Robusta seedlings, farmer training and capacity-building programmes, developing commercial coffee washing stations, creating quality assurance and grading systems, digital farmer registration platforms, structured out-grower schemes, and guaranteed offtake arrangements.

The project will also facilitate the establishment of a Liberia Coffee Exchange to improve market access, price transparency and competitiveness for coffee producers.

Initial Rollout in Three Counties

The first phase of implementation will focus on Nimba, Lofa, and Bong counties. It will also prioritise youth engagement, rural transformation and inclusive agricultural development to ensure broad-based economic benefits.

JR Farms Group Founder and CEO, Olawale Rotimi Oyeyemi, said the agreement represents another important step towards strengthening Africa's coffee industry.

"With this partnership, Liberia's coffee sector will be revitalised and repositioned for growth, value chain development, job creation and revenue generation for the nation," Oyeyemi asserted.