Infestation and management of the black coffee twig borer in Uganda
The Black coffee twig borer’s (BCTB) impact on the robusta coffee production in Uganda is of major importance. A recent study showed that 69% of the coffee farms are infested by the pest of the 26 districts surveyed, with an average of 40% of the coffee plants being attacked. The national yield loss...
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| Format: | First cycle, G2E |
| Language: | Inglés Inglés |
| Published: |
2016
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| Online Access: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/9644/ |
| Summary: | The Black coffee twig borer’s (BCTB) impact on the robusta coffee production in Uganda is of major importance. A recent study showed that 69% of the coffee farms are infested by the pest of the 26 districts surveyed, with an average of 40% of the coffee plants being attacked. The national yield loss is estimated to be 9% because of BCTB.
In this survey farmers, extension officers and researchers were interviewed to compare the knowledge accumulated of BCTB on local, district and national levels and to discuss the management methods of the pest. Since the coffee plants are largely grown using agroforestry methods the utilization of shade trees is both common and recommended. A field study was conducted in the two districts in Central Uganda to investigate if shade trees can be potential hosts to the beetle. In this particular thesis the relationship between the BCTB and the promoted leguminous tree, Albizia chinensis, was examined. Although A. chinensis is recommended to be intercropped with coffee, it has been found to be an alternative host to the BCTB.
The results from the interviews show the different levels of knowledge accumulated by the groups considering the BCTB. The farmers experienced an increased infestation levels of BCTB over the last few years and estimated their yield loss to range between 20-75% because of the pest. The estimation by the officers were lower (5-50%) and two officers believed the infestation levels to be declining. The cutting down of shade trees wasn’t recommended by any officer or researcher, however, four farmers cut down shade trees in order to decrease the levels of BCTB. There may be more cases though, since eleven farmers didn’t give any reason to why they chose to cut down their trees. A. chinensis was mentioned to be a host to BCTB by one researcher and one officer, but the same researcher still recommended it for certain areas. Only one more officer recommended A. chinensis to be intercropped with coffee. The results from our field study showed no significant relationship between presence and abundance of this tree and BCTB attack rates. None of the farmers who had A. chinensis seemed to know the potential the tree inhabits as host to BCTB. The issue thus remain to be further investigated and include to what extent A. chinensis can be recommended.
This study gives indications on what can be done to further improve the sit-uation for the coffee farmers in the two districts surveyed. |
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