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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.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University; and Jimma Agricultural Research Centre for financial and material supports.