When we began rebuilding our coffee farms, one of the first lessons was that planting coffee is only the beginning.
In our first planting cycle, we planted approximately 15,000 coffee seedlings. But without the infrastructure needed to support them through their most vulnerable stage, a significant number were lost. We depended almost entirely on rainfall, with no proper irrigation system in place. Shade was also limited, leaving young coffee plants exposed to the harsh conditions of the farm.
The result was a difficult but important lesson: good planting material needs the right environment to survive.
The following season, we approached the problem differently.
We brought water to the farm and installed a proper irrigation system, giving the young plants access to consistent water beyond the rainy season. We introduced shade trees around the coffee, creating a more suitable microclimate for young Arabica plants. We also installed a solar-powered system to support the farm’s water and irrigation infrastructure.
These changes transformed the nursery and early-stage growing environment.
Plant by plant, survival improved.
What began as a significant challenge became an opportunity to understand our farms better — and to build the systems required for coffee cultivation to succeed over the long term.
The movement from 10% to 48% plantlet survival is more than a number. It represents infrastructure, learning, adaptation and the decision to invest in what happens long before a coffee cherry reaches the processing plant.
For Mai Shayi Coffee, the resurgence of Nigerian Arabica is not simply about bringing coffee back to the cup. It begins with giving every new plant a better chance to grow.
And we are still learning, improving, and building for what comes next.