CIB Aiming to Reduce Decline in Coffee Production

The Coffee Industry Board (CIB) is aiming to reduce the decline in coffee production, with the goal of increasing production to maximum levels.
Dennis Bryan, Regional Officer at the CIB, told JIS News that coffee production has declined by 10 per cent, due primarily to the prevalence of the Anthracnose (called burnside), the Hemileia Vastatrix (coffee leaf rust) and the Coffee Berry Borer, which affect the plant.
He said farmers should use the copper-based fungicide to eliminate the leaf bust, but advised that spraying should be done during May and June and August and September. The Regional Officer also suggested the use of the coffee berry borer trap, called Brocap.
Mr. Bryan pointed out that the Anthracnose disease affected the leaves, branches and the coffee berry.
He explained that when the Anthracnose disease affected the fruit, it caused the moisture in the ripened portion of the berry to dry out, resulting in serious losses to the farmer.
He noted that the Anthracnose disease is caused by a nutritional deficiency affecting the coffee plant.
“All things work together for the common good of the coffee plant and if there is not adequate shade for the plant and the moisture gets low, the plant cannot pick up the plant food and so the berry cannot develop, hence Anthracnose sets in,” he noted.
He added that the disease would result in dark marks on the borders and points of the leaves, which eventually bend and fall off.
Mr. Bryan said the leaf rust caused yellow powdery spots on the leaves and reduced the capability of the plant to support developing berries.