The West Africa Specialty Coffee Association (WASCA) has partnered with a Brazilian firm, Kukuza Agronegocio, to host a training programme for Nigerian stakeholders in the coffee industry.
The programme, scheduled for March 6 to 20, 2026, in Brazil, aims to assist Nigeria in boosting its economy through agro-tourism and enhanced coffee production.
According to WASCA, participants will learn about global coffee quality practices and sustainable farming practices, as well as Brazil’s coffee heritage, including Cooperative Management.
The training programme will comprise field immersion, cooperative visits, laboratory training, and strategic planning, engaging different stakeholders in the Brazilian value chain.
The programme is expected to benefit Nigeria’s coffee industry, which currently exports only $109,000 worth of coffee, making it the 136th largest exporter of coffee in the world. Despite its potential for increased production, Nigeria imports 95% of the coffee it consumes. Coffee is the 5th traded commodity on the global market today.
WASCA’s President, Larry Segun-Lean, stated that participants will engage in hands-on training in processing fermentation, drying, and cupping of coffee seeds.
They will master quality and marketing from farm to cup, learn how branding, storytelling, and direct trade open premium markets, and explore climate-resilient farming, agro-ecology, and income diversification.
The training programme will also evaluate governance models from successful coffee-producing states and compare them with the current infrastructure in Nigeria.
Segun-Lean emphasized that this will have great implications for coffee-producing states in Nigeria, which can boost their revenue by learning from Brazil’s experience.
To address poverty and enhance the welfare of those engaged in the coffee industry, participants will visit family-run farms and study the Araponga co-operative model to learn how organization boosts farmer power and market values.
Segun-Lean concluded that it is time for Nigeria to learn from the masters and boost its national and individual economy.
The programme is expected to attract expressions of interest from key players and enthusiasts in the industry from Nigeria and West Africa.
Nigerian states engaged in coffee farming include Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Taraba, Kogi, Cross River, Plateau, Ekiti, Benue, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Delta, and Abia.
By partnering with Kukuza Agronegocio, WASCA aims to develop Nigeria’s coffee industry and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
The training programme will provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve coffee production, processing, and marketing, and to increase their income and livelihoods.
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