The Katikiro of Buganda Owek Charles Peter Mayiga awarded the National Coffee Research Institute for their outstanding contribution and support to coffee growing in Buganda. This was during the 4-day CBS-PEWOSA Agribusiness trade fair held on Saza grounds in Masaka city from 20th October 2022.
This award comes in at a time when the region is facing the Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB), a prevailing pest that is greatly affecting Coffee productivity in the Robusta growing regions. The female beetle which originally multiplies under shade conditions makes an entry hole into the primary coffee branches and small stems causing it to wilt and dry within a few weeks hence not producing berries. The infestation leads to a loss of harvest estimated at 8.6% of the coffee export volume valued at US$40.1 million annually. NARO has introduced the beetle trap technology which is being up-scaled to manage this pest. However, this trap works more effectively with other integrated pest management practices like phytosanitary methods and avoiding host shade trees. At the trade fair, other NARO technologies which were exhibited include the KR lines which are much appreciated by farmers in the region.
