Coffee farming in Plateau State is experiencing a remarkable revival as farmers who once abandoned the crop are returning to cultivation amid growing awareness, renewed market interest and increased engagement by Lingzhi Global Nigeria Limited.

The renewed interest is particularly evident in Vwang, Vom and other communities across Jos South Local Government Area, where coffee farming has historically been an important part of the agricultural economy.

For years, however, the sector struggled with poor patronage, limited markets, inadequate investment and insufficient support. These challenges forced some farmers to cut down their coffee trees or abandon the crop altogether.

Today, many of those farmers are beginning to see fresh opportunities.

The intervention led by Lingzhi Global Nigeria Limited, under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer and Ambassador of Wealth, Mrs. Blessing Nanman, has helped reignite confidence in coffee farming while creating renewed expectations that the crop can once again become a profitable agricultural venture in Plateau State, Nigeria and across Africa.

Lingzhi Global Coffee Festival Sparks Renewed Interest

A major milestone in the revival was the Lingzhi Global Coffee Festival, held in Plateau State in 2025.

The festival attracted national and international coffee enthusiasts and placed Plateau’s coffee industry in the spotlight, showcasing the state’s potential as a major coffee-producing destination.

Farmers say the festival, alongside subsequent awareness campaigns and engagements, significantly increased public interest in coffee production, consumption, health benefits and investment opportunities.

For many producers, the renewed attention has also translated into increased demand for coffee seedlings and produce.

Farmers Returning to the Fields

Mrs. Margaret Ishaku Fei, a coffee farmer and distributor, described coffee farming as a business that requires patience, endurance and consistent care.

She explained that raising coffee seedlings can take up to six months before they are ready for transplanting, making nursery management an important part of the production process.

Fei said coffee farming has been part of her family for many years, with relatives involved in planting, harvesting and marketing the crop. However, she noted that demand increased considerably following the Lingzhi Global Coffee Festival.

According to her, the renewed interest has encouraged some people who previously cut down their coffee trees to return to farming, while demand for seedlings has now exceeded available supply.

She identified access to water as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, alongside difficulties obtaining suitable organic manure and polythene bags for raising seedlings.

Fei encouraged farmers to return to nursery production and take advantage of the growing market, while commending Lingzhi Global for its efforts to promote coffee and support producers.

From Abandoned Trees to Renewed Hope

For Daniel Gyang Pam, a coffee farmer from Vwang District, coffee farming is a family tradition inherited from his father.

Pam said he continued cultivating coffee despite the limited support available to farmers over the years.

He recalled that poor patronage and the absence of reliable buyers once forced some farmers to cut down their coffee trees because the crop appeared to have little commercial value.

However, he said the intervention by Lingzhi Global has changed that perception and renewed his belief that coffee farming can become productive and sustainable.

He also praised the organisation for educating farmers and the wider public about the health benefits and importance of coffee, saying the awareness has encouraged him and others to continue cultivating the crop.

Another farmer, Pam Mwanti Gyang, stressed that coffee production requires patience, particularly during the nursery stage.

He explained that seedlings require several months to develop and must receive adequate water and proper care before they are ready for the field.

While acknowledging the positive impact of the renewed interest in coffee, Gyang appealed for the establishment of a reliable market where farmers can sell their produce at profitable prices.

Farmers Call for More Investment

Solomon Christopher Pam described coffee as a promising agricultural business, pointing to the growing demand for the crop in Plateau State and across Nigeria.

However, he identified inadequate funding and the difficulty of meeting growing market demand as major challenges, urging more individuals and investors to explore opportunities in coffee production.

Similarly, Badung Tom Mangai called for increased support for farmers, stressing the need for practical interventions, sustained awareness and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

Joseph Ishaku Dagai said coffee remains an important crop to his family and community but noted that financial constraints affect both farmers and consumers.

He called for stronger connections across the coffee industry and improved access to resources, markets and opportunities.

Another farmer, Badung Datok, expressed concern about inadequate government support but maintained that coffee has significant commercial potential.

He said the increasing number of people showing interest in coffee farming and learning about the crop is an indication that the industry is gradually making progress despite the challenges.

Family Tradition Meets New Opportunity

For Elisha Yakubu Dadung, coffee farming is more than an agricultural activity—it is a family tradition he learnt from his father.

He appreciated Lingzhi Global for engaging farmers and encouraging renewed interest in the crop.

Mwanti Jah also commended the ongoing efforts to promote coffee farming, expressing appreciation to Lingzhi Global for increasing awareness and creating a marketplace for coffee.

He particularly highlighted the recent coffee festival held at Langfield, Rayfield, Jos, describing it as evidence of the growing interest in the industry.

Meanwhile, Dalyop Tari Gyang, a coffee farmer from Jos South, said he inherited coffee farming from his late father but eventually lost hope when there was no dependable market for the crop.

According to him, the Lingzhi Global Coffee Festival has renewed his confidence, with increased buyer interest and improved prices creating new optimism among farmers.

Gyang applauded Lingzhi Global’s awareness campaign and intervention, which he said has helped restore hope among coffee producers.

Beyond Awareness: Building a Sustainable Coffee Value Chain

Despite the renewed optimism, farmers agree that awareness alone will not be enough to sustain the revival.

They are calling for improved access to quality seedlings, water, organic manure, nursery materials, financing, technical support, processing facilities and dependable buyers.

Their experiences underline the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies, private organisations, investors, development partners and farming communities.

Lingzhi Global’s intervention has provided an important platform for rebuilding confidence in Plateau’s coffee industry. The growing demand for seedlings and the willingness of farmers to plant new coffee trees suggest that the sector has significant untapped potential.

However, for the renewed enthusiasm to translate into long-term economic impact, attention must now shift towards developing a complete and sustainable coffee value chain—from seedling production and cultivation to harvesting, processing, marketing and consumption.

After years of declining patronage, Plateau’s coffee farmers are beginning to believe again.

They are returning to their farms, planting new trees and looking towards a future where coffee can once again provide sustainable livelihoods.

With sustained investment, reliable markets, stronger institutional support and continued private-sector engagement, Plateau State has an opportunity to reposition itself as a major coffee-producing hub in Nigeria and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Africa’s coffee industry.

The trees are growing again. The farmers are returning. And, most importantly, hope is returning to Plateau’s coffee fields.