WASCA, Brazilian Firm Partner to Boost Agro-Tourism and Coffee Production in Nigeria
The West Africa Specialty Coffee Association (WASCA) has entered into a strategic partnership with Brazilian agribusiness company, Kukuza Agronegocio, to strengthen Nigeria’s coffee industry through agro-tourism and capacity building.
As part of the collaboration, WASCA and its Brazilian partners will host a two-week training programme for Nigerian stakeholders from March 6 to 20, 2026, in Brazil — the global hub of coffee production and trade.
According to a statement by WASCA, the training will expose participants to international best practices in coffee quality control, sustainable farming methods, cooperative management, and Brazil’s renowned coffee heritage. The programme will also feature field immersions, cooperative visits, laboratory sessions, and strategic planning engagements with various players across Brazil’s coffee value chain.
Nigeria currently imports about 95 percent of the coffee it consumes despite having strong potential for local production. In 2023, the country exported only $109,000 worth of coffee, ranking 136th out of 199 coffee exporters worldwide. Coffee remains the fifth most traded commodity globally.
WASCA President, Larry Segun-Lean, said the initiative will provide participants with hands-on training in coffee processing, including fermentation, drying, and cupping.
“They will learn how to master quality and marketing from farm to cup, and also explore how branding, storytelling, and direct trade can open premium markets,” Segun-Lean explained.
He added that participants would also be exposed to climate-resilient farming techniques, agroecology, and income diversification models, while evaluating governance structures from Brazil’s successful coffee-producing states for possible adaptation in Nigeria.
On poverty reduction and farmer empowerment, Segun-Lean revealed that Nigerian delegates will visit family-run farms and study the Araponga cooperative model to understand how collective organisation enhances farmer influence and market value.
“It is time to learn from the masters and boost our national and individual economy,” he stated, urging coffee-producing states in Nigeria to participate actively.
Key Nigerian states cultivating coffee include Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Taraba, Kogi, Cross River, Plateau, Ekiti, and Benue. Others are Edo, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Delta, and Abia.
Industry stakeholders from across Nigeria and West Africa are expected to take part in the landmark programme.
