Wilt wipes out coffee

Ten thousand hectares of robusta coffee in Uganda are infested with the coffee wilt disease known as tracheomycosis. It starts by affecting the roots and leaves until the whole plant wilts. It is spread by wind and human activity. The disease was first reported in 1993 and has now spread to 70% of the Ugandan coffee growing areas. In the absence of a remedy to curb the disease, the only recommended control is to uproot and burn all affected plants. Although the disease is still confined to Uganda (Africa s leading coffee producer) and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it could easily spread to other countries.Ten thousand hectares of robusta coffee in Uganda are infested with the coffee wilt disease known as tracheomycosis. It starts by affecting the roots and leaves until the whole plant wilts. It is spread by wind and human activity. The disease was..