Abstract:
The current status of coffee berry disease (CBD) caused
by Colletotrichum kahawae was intensively assessed and
examined in 152 sample coffee farms from 22 districts across
major coffee growing regions of Ethiopia. The results showed
that CBD was prevalent with significantly (p < 0.001) varied
intensity of damage among fields, districts and zones. The
highest disease incidence of 70.7, 65.3 and 59.3% was recorded
in Hararghe, Gedeo and Jimma, with correspondingly higher
severity of 42.7, 46.7 and 32.0%, respectively. The national
average incidence and severity of CBD was 52.5 and 29.9% that
indicated the present status of the disease is remarkably on
increasing trend. The increased intensity of CBD was strongly
associated with reduced disease management practices
(r = 0.50), altitude (r = 0.42), coffee cultivars (r = 0.23) and
production systems (r = 0.28). This empirical evidence shows
that CBD is on an upsurge and remains a major challenge to
Arabica coffee production in Ethiopia.
