Abstract
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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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
69% of surveyed coffee farms were infested by the borer.
- Interactor
- Black coffee twig borere1pest
- Outcome
- coffee farms are infested by the peste0
- Value
- 69%e0
- Setting
- 26 districtse0
CoffeaOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“69% of the coffee farms are infested by the pest of the 26 districts surveyed”
e1“The Black coffee twig borer’s (BCTB) impact”
Claim · model-written summary
An average of 40% of coffee plants were attacked.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“an average of 40% of the coffee plants being attacked”
e1“The Black coffee twig borer’s (BCTB) impact”
Claim · model-written summary
National coffee yield loss due to the borer was estimated at 9%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The national yield loss is estimated to be 9% because of BCTB”
e1“coffee plants being attacked”
Claim · model-written summary
Albizia chinensis was found to be an alternative host of the borer.
- Taxon
- A. chinensis
Albizia chinensise1 - Interactor
- BCTBe0pest
- Outcome
- alternative host to the BCTBe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“it has been found to be an alternative host to the BCTB”
e1“A. chinensis is recommended to be intercropped with coffee”
Claim · model-written summary
Farmers reported increased borer infestation in recent years.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The farmers experienced an increased infestation levels of BCTB over the last few years”
e1“coffee farmers in the two districts surveyed”
Claim · model-written summary
Farmers estimated yield loss due to the borer at 20-75%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“estimated their yield loss to range between 20-75% because of the pest”
e1“coffee farmers in the two districts surveyed”
e2“infestation levels of BCTB”
Claim · model-written summary
Officers estimated yield loss at 5-50%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The estimation by the officers were lower (5-50%)”
e1“coffee farmers in the two districts surveyed”
e2“estimated their yield loss to range between 20-75% because of the pest”
e3“infestation levels of BCTB”
Claim · model-written summary
Two officers believed borer infestation was declining.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“two officers believed the infestation levels to be declining”
e1“coffee farmers in the two districts surveyed”
e2“infestation levels of BCTB”
Claim · model-written summary
Four farmers cut down shade trees to reduce borer levels.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“four farmers cut down shade trees in order to decrease the levels of BCTB”
e1“coffee farmers in the two districts surveyed”
Claim · model-written summary
The field study found no significant association between tree presence or abundance and borer attack rates.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“no significant relationship between presence and abundance of this tree and BCTB attack rates”
e1“coffee plants being attacked”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors left the recommendation to intercrop Albizia chinensis with coffee unresolved.
- Outcome
- A. chinensis can be recommendede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“to what extent A. chinensis can be recommended”
e1“A. chinensis is recommended to be intercropped with coffee”