Nigeria has recorded zero per cent in coffee production for the first four months of 2015, even when its growers say the global demand for the nation’s coffee is high.
A report obtained on Friday from the United States Department of Agriculture, which contains details of coffee production in 84 countries, indicated that Nigeria produced 35,000 bags of coffee in 2014, representing an increase of 16.67 per cent over 30,000 bags recorded in 2013. But the report stated that the nation had since the beginning of the year made no production.
Coffee production in Nigeria, which peaked at 95,000 bags in 1964, had been dropping steadily since 2000, remaining below 60,000 bags annually, it added.
In 2012, the nation’s output was put at 40,000 bags, a 33 per cent increase over the 2011 figure of 30,000 bags. It also witnessed fluctuations in the late 1980s and early 90s, hovering between 80,000 and 90,000 bags.
Operators attributed the poor performance to apathy and continued neglect of the sector by the government.
World production of coffee is put at 152.5 million bags. Of this, Brazil produces 54.5 million, followed by Vietnam with 28.9 million bags and Colombia, 12.1 million bags.
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