Coffee Tree Pest and Disease Management in Yemen
Country : YemenRegion : Sanaa, Ibb, DhamarYear : 2021Project Theme : Profitable Coffee CultivationBeneficiaries : 1,500Impact : Capacity BuildingPartners : Lavazza Foundation, RD2 VisionDuring focus groups and training discussions, another issue commonly misdiagnosed by producers as Khariz was reported. After thorough examination, it was determined that it was, in fact, an agronomic phenomenon known as ‘die back’ not caused by pests or diseases, but rather by nutrient deficiencies linked to Yemen's alkaline soil. Yemen is the only coffee-producing country with alkaline soil, which results in a lack of protocols and research on the matter. The elevated soil pH hinders the plant's ability to absorb essential nutrients and stunts its growth.
In response, Qima Foundation introduced a soil nutrition program to address this problem. Preliminary outcomes have been encouraging, with initial test cases reporting a 30% increase in yield following the intervention.
Through this project, Yemeni coffee producers gained valuable insights and effective strategies to combat pests and diseases, using which they can safeguard their coffee crops and enhance overall productivity in the affected regions’.
As part of the Prosperity Through Coffee Programme, we identified pests and diseases as a major constraint faced by Yemeni producers that lead to substantial harvest losses. Among the prominent issues identified by producers was a destructive insect referred to as Khariz, causing estimated losses of up to 60%. Despite the magnitude of damage, Yemeni producers were unable to identify the specific pest responsible. During the project, several hypotheses were explored, including Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) and Coffee Berry Disease (CBD). After laboratory analyses, focus groups and field visits, it was finally confirmed that the Coffee Berry Moth (CBM) was responsible for the damage. This misdiagnosed and unchecked moth had plagued the coffee farms for decades due to a lack of knowledge about its life cycle and effective prevention methods. Once CBM was identified as the responsible pest, Qima Foundation initiated efforts to develop protocols for CBM identification, treatment, and management, involving staff and lead farmers.
