COFFEE IN NIGERIA

COFFEE IN NIGERIA

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OVERVIEW

Coffee is a tropical tree crop belonging to the Rubiaceae family and genus Coffea, which is one of the largest tropical plant families. Coffee is a native African plant that has spread over the Indian Ocean to Madagascar, Sudan, the Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion. Coffea arabica generally known as "Arabica coffee," and Coffea canephora widely known as "Robusta coffee," are two of the 124 species of Coffee that are commercially grown for the manufacturing of coffee beverage. Coffea arabica is noted for producing high-quality coffee but Coffea canephora has a poor flavour profile and a relatively bitter taste.

Coffee species are woody, ranging from shrubs to small tree sizes but the characters of coffee species differ from one another. Some drop their leaves at the start of the dry season, while others keep them for three years or more. Nonetheless, the two economically produced varieties, Arabica and Robusta are evergreens.

In the 1930s, just a few decades after coffee was first introduced in Nigeria, the government started to promote its cultivation by making both arabica and robusta seeds available to farmers across the country.?

Now, less than 100 years on, coffee production in the country is faced with few challenges. The amount of land being used to cultivate coffee is falling, many farms have nutrient-depleted soil, and there is a widespread skills gap as many coffee farmers belong to older generations.

Today, Robusta accounts for 90% of all coffee exports in Nigeria. Robusta is grown in 14 states across the country, including Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Bauchi, and Jos.?

While Robusta makes up most of the coffee in the country, a handful of coffee farmers in Nigeria have started to grow higher quality Arabica. However, a lack of awareness, limited market access, and very small harvest figures, makes it discouraging for the farmers to grow it.

Arabica is cultivated in just two states: Cross River and Taraba. According to a source, around 110 different varieties of Arabica are currently being tested on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba, although the exact varieties being used are unknown.

Mai Shayi is an Arabica coffee, one of the coffees brand in Nigeria, founded in 2019 by Ibrahim Samande, Mai Shayi Coffee Roasters Ltd is a premier specialty coffee brand in Nigeria, dedicated to bringing Nigerian coffee’s distinct flavours and experiences to the world. It sells a range of high-altitude coffees, many of which exhibit sweet and fruity flavours.?

Mai Shayi Coffee is more than just a coffee brand; it is an immersive journey that tells the story of the specialty coffee value chain from farm to cup, engaging consumers every step of the way.

Here at The Wheatbaker, because we support Nigerian businesses and collaborates with Nigerian Enterprises, we reawaken the senses and immerse our customers in this journey as they savour every sip of Mai Shayi coffee and Mai Shayi ice-cream made from a blend of 50% Nigerian Blue Mountain coffee beans and 50% Arabica coffee beans exclusive to only Wheatbaker customers.

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Challenges associated with the Sale of Coffee in Nigeria Coffee Farms.

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Unlike in major African coffee producing countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya, Nigeria does not have any kind of centralised coffee exchange, and no formal system for trading coffee.?

Furthermore, the small number of buyers of Nigerian coffee are often unable to commit to buying one farm’s entire harvest, which only creates further instability. This has been compounded by a lack of government support for the coffee sector.

During the harvest season, this handful of buyers (often representing larger corporations) visit the farms and buy off some of the coffee. The prices that the farmers get are by no means sustainable, but ultimately, they are irresistible.

A lack of national coffee policy in Nigeria is one of the major challenges that affects local coffee farmers. Even the larger coffee businesses in the country import beans from other surrounding countries to manufacture instant coffee – which remains popular with domestic consumers. Unfortunately, a lack of commitment from these large coffee businesses to ensuring these policies exists has had a negative effect on the entire value chain. As at present, Nigeria has no established national coffee body or Farmer’s Association body.

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COFFEE DRINKING IN NIGERIA.

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Historically, Nigerian consumers drink tea, cocoa, and instant coffee, but the trends are beginning to change, maybe slowly. Independent cafés and coffee shops are emerging, some of which are starting to produce ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, growing demand for specialty coffees in cafes, Consumers are seeking unique and high-quality coffee experiences while exploring various flavour profiles.

One of the issues with the Nigerian coffee consumers is the cost of coffee. Cheap forms of instant coffee are easily accessible coffee products in the market.

Most of the coffee available for sale in Nigeria is soluble, which has been made popular by mobile coffee kiosks found across major cities, including Lagos.?

In conclusion, despite coffee's importance for economic growth and poverty reduction, studies have shown that the coffee production trend in Nigeria has a highly significant level of decline over time. Poor pricing and marketing channels particularly at the international level, aging coffee trees, lack of training on good agricultural practices, lack of government support, climate change, lack of input, land acquisition and drought have been attributed as the major causes of the decline in Nigeria coffee production.

However, one of the ways to avert the downward trend in Nigeria coffee production could be Government initiatives to support agriculture and local farmers which can positively impact the coffee sector. This support may come in the form of subsidies, training programs, and infrastructure development.