Berry Borer infestation in Coffee

Make PDF

What is a Borer infestation?

• The Coffee Berry Borer or Coffee Borer Beetle (CBB) is an insect found around the world and prevalent in most coffee producing countries. 
• It is among the most harmful pests to commercial coffee plantations and can attack 50-100% of berries on a farm if no control measures are applied.
• The CBB belongs to the genus Hypothenemus, which has more than 181 species and can be found not only in coffee but also in plants, fungi and even drawing boards and books.
• The CBB will usually enter the coffee cherry when the water content is 20% or higher and the cherries are still green. This is about 120-150 days after flowering and 30 – 150 days before harvesting. 

How to control it?

• The berry borer-infested gleanings, leftover fruits, and off-season berries should be collected and disposed of by burning or burying in the soil or disinfested by dipping in boiling water to mitigate attack in the next season.
• Brocca traps, an effective measure to control berry borer population in coffee plantations, should be installed and backing irrigation should be provided for Robusta coffee plants. 
• The installation of brocca traps at 10 units per acre would be helpful to control the pest attack.

Note: 

• Coffee production in India is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states, with Karnataka accounting for 71% (Kodagu alone produces 33% of India’s coffee), followed by Kerala with 21% and Tamil Nadu (5% of overall production with 8,200 tonnes). 
• Indian coffee is said to be the finest coffee grown in the shade rather than direct sunlight anywhere in the world.

• The two well known species of coffee grown are the Arabica and Robusta. 
• The first variety that was introduced in the Baba Budan Giri hill ranges in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka state in the 17th century was marketed over the years under the brand names of Kent and S.795.

Make PDF