Incidence, Damage and Management of the Major Pests and Diseases of Robusta Coffee, [Coffea canephora (Pierre Ex A. Froehner)] in Uganda
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Date
2024-12-15
Journal Title
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Publisher
Journal of Agricultural Science
Abstract
Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB), Xylosandrous compactus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and Coffee Wilt
Disease (CWD) are still the two main biological constraints to Robusta coffee production in Uganda. A rapid
assessment survey was conducted in January 2022 in the Regions of Eastern (Busoga), Greater Masaka, Western,
South western and Rwenzori to determine the status of pests and diseases in the different regions. A
short-structured questionnaire with both open and closed-ended questions was administered to 268 participants
that were purposively selected in different regions. At plot level, five coffee plants were selected in each of the
sampled coffee farms for observation. The selected stems were checked for infestation by the stem borers and
root mealy bugs (evidenced by ants moving up and down the coffee tree). The coffee canopy was divided into 2
imaginary sections—upper and lower to assess damage by leaf skeletonizers, tailed caterpillars, beetles, aphids,
mealybugs, lygus, brown eye spot, coffee leaf rust, scales, aphids, berry moth and red blister. In addition, data
was collected at field level parameters including: shade intensity, the most common shade trees, weed
management and most common weeds (whether grasses, sedges or broadleaved), mulching intensity and
mulching material, manuring intensity and common manure used, fertilizer application and type of fertilizer used,
presence and type of cover crops, presence of bands and trenches as well as intensity of intercropping and the
most common intercrops.
Field observations revealed that the Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB) was responsible for the drying up of
young and old coffee branches across all regions together with Coffee Wilt disease (CWD) to a smaller extent.
On average, 9.4% of the primary branches were infested by BCTB. The highest damage levels of BCTB were
recorded in Eastern (17.2%) and Western (12.4%) regions. Although, BCTB affected all ages of coffee, young
coffee of 2-3 years was most affected. Overall, 3.9% of the sampled coffee trees were infected by Coffee Wilt
Disease (CWD), with the highest incidence (8.2%) recorded in Southwestern Uganda.
There is need to enhance existing management measures for coffee pests and diseases especially BCTB and
CWD. Due to the high levels of spread of BCTB, this will require a community approach to sensitize farmers
through meetings and media on the sustainable management of BCTB. There is also need to come up with good
dissemination strategies of Coffee Wilt Disease Resistant varieties to aid their uptake and roll out a gap filling
programme for coffee trees infected and destroyed by CWD across all regions using CWDr varieties.
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Citation
Kyalo, G., Kagezi, G. H., Olango, N. D., Anyijuka, M., Twesigye, V., Musasizi, J. K., ... & Niyibigira, E. I. (2024). Incidence, Damage and Management of the Major Pests and Diseases of Robusta Coffee,[Coffea canephora (Pierre Ex A. Froehner)] in Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Science, 17(1), 1-70.