Incidence and Severity of Coffee Berry Disease in West Hararge Zone, Eastern Ethiopia

Coffee is principal cash crop in Ethiopia. Harar coffee is one of the coffee types of Ethiopia known for their fine quality unique aroma and flavor. Large proportion of Harar coffee is produced in West Hararge Zone in Eastern Ethiopia. Coffee berry disease is the major disease of coffee in the country. It causes huge yield loss of 25-30% at national level. In addition to yield reduction, the disease deteriorates cup quality of coffee. There was a need to study status of coffee berry disease is Harar coffee grower areas. Accordingly, this study was conducted with the objective to determine incidence and severity of coffee berry disease (CBD) in West Hararge Zone. Total of 135 coffee farms at 27 study sites in three districts (Daro Labu, Habro and Boke) were used for this study. The study sites were selected using multi stage sampling techniques. Incidence and severity of coffee berry disease were determined as percentage of diseased plants and percentage of diseased berries, respectively. Incidence of CBD was studied by visual assessment on 10- 15 trees/ farm. Sample plants were randomly selected and diagnosed for presence and absence of the disease. Then, disease incidence was calculated as number of diseased trees divided by total observed trees and multiplies by 100. CBD severity was determined using berry counting method. For each plot, 8 to10 coffee trees were randomly selected, following diagonal and zigzag method. Each coffee tree was divided into three strata of branches (top, middle and bottom). From each stratum one branch was selected and the number of CBD infected and that of healthy berries was recorded. From that, percentage of diseased coffee berries was worked out. Data was analyzed for descriptive statistics (mean, range, percentage). The result of this study revealed that incidence of CBD varied among study sites. CBD incidence in West Hararge varied from 8.0% 84.0 % with mean of 49.7%. On the other hand severity of coffee berry disease ranged from 0.0 to 26.7% with mean of 10.0%. Both incidence and severity of the disease varied across study districts and sites. Hot spot areas were identified. Hence, it is advisable to introduce CBD resistant coffee varieties for hot spot areas. Training farmers to use cultural control methods such as pruning, sucker management is also the way forward. Keywords: Coffee berry disease; Eastern Ethiopia; Incidence; Severity DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-15-04 Publication date:August 31st 202