Abuja, Nigeria – [2^nd April 2025] – The National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria (NACOFTAN) and the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) have joined forces in a landmark partnership. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on the 27th of March 2025, is set to revolutionize Nigeria’s tea and coffee industry by addressing the critical issue of resource access for smallholder farmers and promoting the growth and development of both lowland and highland coffee and tea varieties.  

The MOU, signed at a ceremony at the Council headquarters, was endorsed by Dr Hassan Usman Kakara for the Association and RMRDC Director General, Professor Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, in the presence of NACOFTAN executives and the Council’s top management. It outlines a partnership focused on promoting the tea and coffee industry through research, development, and innovation.

Smallholder farmers dominate Nigerian coffee and tea farming, and they have struggled to benefit from the current high global prices due to the challenges of low investment, poor seed quality, and substantial capacity gaps. While coffee prices recently reached a 14-month high, local production has remained flat and uninspiring. Coffee, cotton, and cacao used to be significant cash crops that earned Nigeria millions of dollars in revenue in the 1960s and 70s but has failed, in the last decades, to attract the quality of investment it needs. NACOFTAN is poised to change this with new partnerships and programmes that engage various stakeholders from the federal government to state governments and the private sector.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), is committed to the development of local raw materials and the coordination of research efforts. The RMRDC will play a pivotal role in facilitating research and development activities, undertaking market research, driving technology transfer, building the capacity of farmers and processors, promoting partnerships, and enabling regulatory and policy support.  

NACOFTAN, the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Associations of Nigeria (FACAN)-affiliated representative for professionals, producers, and retailers in Nigeria’s coffee and tea industry, is a key player in this partnership. NACOFTAN will provide crucial data on farmers, ensure their participation in training programs, organize them into clusters, and provide land for demonstration farms, contributing significantly to the initiative’s success.

“This is a major milestone for the Association, and it marks a significant step towards unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s coffee and tea sector,” said Dr. Kakara, NACOFTAN’s president. “We are excited to partner with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to empower our members with the knowledge, technology, and support they need to thrive in the global market. This MOU will help position Nigeria as a key player in the beverage industry.”

About RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RMRDC)

The RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RMRDC) was established to develop local raw materials and coordinate research efforts on raw materials acquisition, exploitation, conservation, and development.  

About NACOFTAN

Established in 2004, the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria (NACOFTAN) is the official representative for professionals, producers, and retailers in Nigeria’s coffee and tea industry. NACOFTAN is deeply committed to positioning Nigeria as a global factor in the beverage industry, and this partnership with RMRDC is a testament to that commitment.

Contact:

Richard Ali,
 [email protected]  
+234 806 239 2145