Aranka, J., Apis, B., Asiota, B., Bafeo, M., Bekio, J., Curry, G.N., Hamago, M., Inu, S.M., Kiup, E., Koczberski, G., Togonave, P. & Webb, M.

Coffee farmers in PNG have very poor knowledge of coffee pests and diseases and appropriate control methods, recent research published in the PNG Coffee Journal has found. This finding is significant as a low level of farmer knowledge of pest and disease control methods affects coffee production and suggests that the Coffee Berry Borer, which arrived in the PNG highlands in 2017 and is now having a significant impact on production, is likely to be very difficult to manage.

Shade control is considered critical for managing diseases such as coffee green scale, pink disease and coffee rust. With this in mind, research was carried out to assess farmers’ perceptions regarding the use of shade trees in controlling pests and diseases. From 2010 to 2012, data were collected through interviews with farmers and physical inspection of gardens in the areas of Asaro, Bena, Baira and Marawaka, Eastern Highlands. Much of the information collected showed that farmers in remote sites were constrained by a lack of knowledge about pests and diseases and their control whilst farmers in accessible sites had more diverse incomes from sources such as vegetable production and consequently spent less time in coffee farming. Overall, farmers showed motivation in dealing with pest and disease problems. However, they were constrained by a lack of knowledge about the types of cultural control methods available and how they are applied.

Pests and diseases are among the biggest problems that coffee farmers face, causing enormous crop losses, and consequently taking a large bite out of farmers’ incomes. Controlling pests and diseases is not easy, and farmers require a variety of strategies to control them, but they need the knowledge to do this. It is argued that with the appropriate knowledge, they can recognise early signs of a problem, and decide on the best means of treatment. Agricultural extension and research workers must interact with coffee farmers on a regular basis. In doing so, effective communication is more likely to occur between farmers and extension officers.

This research and the development of this research paper emerged under ACIAR-funded projects ASEM/2008/036 and ASEM/2016/100 . This and other recent PNG Coffee Journal papers can be found here.

Full reference:

Aranka, J., Apis, B., Asiota, B., Bafeo, M., Bekio, J., Curry, G.N., Hamago, M., Inu, S.M., Kiup, E., Koczberski, G., Togonave, P. & Webb, M. (2021).  Smallholder Farmers’ Knowledge of Coffee Pests and Diseases in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. PNG Coffee Journal 15(1), 23-29.