Fear as coffee disease threatens neighbouring Uganda

MEDDY MULISA in Bukoba

GOVERNMENT authorities in Kagera Region are closely monitoring the deadly Black Twig Borer, which is reported to have caused loss of million shillings to coffee farmers in Uganda.

The Zonal Manager of the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TACRI) at Maruku, Nyabisi Ng’homa, said here that the coffee disease had been confirmed in Uganda. “The Black twig Borer has not been reported anywhere in Tanzania, but efforts are being made to control it,” he said.

Coffee is vital to the economy of East and Central Africa, providing a major source of foreign exchange earnings and as a cash crop, supporting the livelihoods of millions involved in cultivation, processing, marketing and export.

Coffee exports earned the country US$135 million (about 294.4bn/-) in foreign exchange during the 2015/2026 farming season as the country produced 59,000 metric tons, which is above average annual production of 50,000 tons.

Average production of coffee in Tanzania stands at 50,000 metric tons (about 900,000 sacks) but the rate is likely to drop to 48,00O tons in the coming farming season. Tanzania mainly exports its coffee to Japan (Arabica) and Italy (Robusta).

China and Russia are among new markets for Tanzanian coffee. According to Ng’homa, the world demand for coffee stands at 153 million sacks and yet production is at 150 million sacks, representing a shortage of three million sacks.

Tanzania is the fourth coffee producing country in Africa after Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Uganda, while in East Africa it is placed on position number two after Uganda. Coffee production in Tanzania has stagnated over the past ten years but plans are underway to boost productivity through increased use of inputs, introduction of pests and disease resistant trees as well as setting up of small and medium scale coffee processing plants.

The Black Twig Borer is a very small (1/16 inch), shiny, black, cylindrical beetle. It attacks a wide range of plants, including avocado, cocoa, cashew, coffee, cinnamon and mango trees. Infestation becomes apparent when die-back of twigs and branches occurs.

A severe infestation can kill host plants, including large trees. The female black twig borer is a very small (1.6mm)long, shiny, black, cylindrical beetle. Males are half as long as females and incapable of flight.

Eggs are extremely small, oval, white and translucent. Black twig borer grubs are white and legless. The body of young grubs is pointed at the rear. Older grubs have brownish heads and round tails.