Uganda coffee farmers have turned to alcohol traps to clear 70 per cent of coffee twig borers which have been losing them $40 million every year.
The black coffee twig borer (BCTB) is a big threat to African farming. Farmers have found it difficult to kill the pest because it digs deep inside coffee twigs where it remains out of the reach of chemicals. According to Uganda’s National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) it affects seven out of ten coffee farms and a farmer can lose up to half of their coffee yield if they do not manage the pest.
The beetle, which is mostly found near the equator, digs into feeds and lays eggs on twigs, stems, and branches of not only coffee but also mango, macadamia, citrus, tea, cacao, rubber, and forest trees causing the death of the affected plant parts.
“We were taught how to make the beetle alcohol traps by NaCORI agriculture extension officers and it has proven to be highly effective in getting rid of the BCTB,” said Kato Muwanga a coffee farmer in Central Uganda.
The trap is made from a clear mineral water bottle, a smaller bottle, ethanol, and a wire or string.
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Two holes are made on two opposite sides of the plastic bottle and it is filled with water. Inside the plastic bottle, a smaller bottle containing ethanol is suspended using a string. The ethanol produces a scent that the beetle loves and lures the insects into the trap and once the beetle enters the plastic bottle it is trapped and drowns in the water.
The trap itself eliminates 50-70 per cent of adult beetles but when other pest control methods are added, farmers lower the beetle’s population and limit its ability to reproduce. “We were taught that when you cut and burn affected parts of the coffee, avoid using shade trees such as umbrella trees and Nile tulip trees which are homes for the pest you can eliminate 100 per cent of the pests,” Kato said.
For one acre of land, a farmer needs to set up six traps and they are refilled twice a month. For the traps to be most effective, the ethanol should be 50 per cent absolute.
According to NaCORI, to eliminate BCTB there is a need for a community approach because the beetles can fly from one farm to the next.
Farmers should also only buy coffee seedlings from certified nurseries that are pest-free and inspect their fields regularly to identify any attacks.
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