New: Rotimi Opeyemi Leads JR Farms’ $60M Liberia Coffee Investment

Nigerian agribusiness entrepreneur Rotimi Opeyemi has led JR Farms Group into one of the most significant coffee development partnerships in West Africa after signing a $60 million agreement with the Government of Liberia aimed at revitalizing the country’s coffee industry, boosting exports, and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The landmark 20-year public-private partnership concession, signed through Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture, represents one of the largest recent investments in Liberia’s coffee sector. The initiative is expected to strengthen agricultural production, increase export earnings, attract private-sector participation, and improve livelihoods across rural communities.

Under the agreement, JR Farms Group will collaborate with the Liberian government to develop more than 250,000 hectares of coffee plantations over the next two decades. The ambitious project is expected to benefit over 200,000 farmers and includes plans to plant at least 200 million coffee trees, significantly increasing the country’s coffee production capacity. The initiative is also projected to generate more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs across Liberia’s coffee value chain, spanning cultivation, processing, logistics, exports, and retail operations.

The agreement, with an estimated investment impact of $60 million, was signed in Monrovia by Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, and Rotimi Opeyemi, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group. The partnership comes at a critical time as Liberia seeks to restore its position as a notable coffee-producing nation. Historically recognized for its distinctive Liberica coffee variety, the country also possesses ideal conditions for cultivating Arabica and Robusta coffee, creating opportunities for increased production and export growth.

Coffee has become a strategic priority under Liberia’s economic diversification agenda, with policymakers viewing the sector as a key driver of rural development and foreign exchange earnings. The agreement aligns with the objectives of Liberia’s National Agriculture Development Plan, which targets the establishment of 15,000 hectares of new coffee farms within the next five years.

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As part of the long-term development program, JR Farms Group will work alongside government agencies and local farming communities to establish coffee nurseries, distribute improved seedlings, and expand farmer training initiatives. The company also plans to support the development of coffee washing stations, quality assurance systems, and structured out-grower programs designed to improve productivity, enhance quality standards, and increase access to local and international markets.

The project will further introduce digital farmer registration systems and guaranteed offtake arrangements aimed at providing greater stability for coffee producers. Plans are also underway to establish a Liberia Coffee Exchange that could connect local farmers with regional and global buyers while improving transparency and strengthening market access. Initial implementation efforts will focus on major coffee-producing counties, including Nimba, Lofa, and Bong.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Rotimi Opeyemi described the agreement as part of a broader mission to strengthen Africa’s position in the global coffee industry. He noted that Liberia’s rich coffee heritage and unique Liberica coffee variety provide a strong foundation for sustainable sector growth.

“We are working to help strengthen Africa’s role in the global coffee industry, one country at a time. Liberia has a long history as a coffee-producing nation, particularly through its unique Liberica variety. We believe this partnership can support the sector’s recovery, create jobs, strengthen value addition and generate new economic opportunities for the country,” he said.

The Liberia coffee deal marks another major milestone for JR Farms Group, which was founded in 2013 by Rotimi Opeyemi and Jibike Opeyemi. The company, whose name combines the founders’ initials, began as a farming operation in Nigeria before expanding into Rwanda, Zambia, France, and Canada. Over the years, JR Farms Group has evolved into a diversified agribusiness operating across coffee production, processing, trading, retail, consulting, and cross-border agricultural commerce.

Today, the company works with more than 9,000 farmers across multiple countries, operates three processing facilities, and manages 16 coffee retail outlets. Its operations span the entire agricultural value chain, supporting thousands of livelihoods while serving customers across African and international markets. JR Farms Group has also expanded into real estate investments in Nigeria as part of its broader business portfolio.

The Liberia partnership positions JR Farms Group at the center of one of West Africa’s most ambitious coffee development initiatives. Beyond increasing production and exports, the project is expected to contribute significantly to job creation, rural economic development, and agricultural modernization. For Liberia, it represents an opportunity to reclaim its place in the global coffee market. For Rotimi Opeyemi and JR Farms Group, it reinforces a growing reputation as a leading African agribusiness committed to transforming agriculture and creating sustainable economic opportunities across the continent.