Evaluation of farmers’ awareness levels and coping mechanisms to coffee red blister disease, case study of Mityana district.

Abstract

A survey was conducted to evaluate farmers’ awareness levels and coping mechanisms to coffee red blister disease in Mityana district. The survey was conducted in five different sub-counties including; Bulera, Kalangaalo, Ssekanyonyi, Maanyi and Bbanda. It was conducted on 150 respondents focusing on objectives such as; evaluation of the awareness levels of existence of CRBD, assessment of farmers’ perceptions about the severity of CRBD and examination of farmers’ coping mechanism to CRBD. A study to evaluate farmers’ awareness levels and coping mechanisms to coffee red blister disease in Central Uganda had more males, most of them belonged to the age bracket of 31-59yrs and most of them had attained either primary or secondary school education level. There was a very very significant (P˂0.05) between coffee cropping sequences and sub counties. There was a significant association (P˂0.05) between the awareness levels on the existence of coffee red blister diseases and the sub counties. There was a non-significant association (P˃0.05) between farmers whose coffee had ever suffered from coffee red blister disease and their respective sub counties. The respondents list different means of spread of coffee red blister disease including; run-off, human/animal activity, movement of infested materials, insect activity and wind. The respondents listed different plant parts affected by coffee red blister disease such as; flowers, roots, leaves, branches and berries. Signs and symptoms listed included; enlarged spots, pre-mature ripening, yellowing, dead seeds, colored berries, stunting, pre-mature defoliation, berry drop off, stem cracking, small red spots, dry lesions. There was a very very significant association (P˂0.05) between the trends of occurrence of coffee red blister diseases and each sub county where the disease occurred. There was a very very significant association (P˂0.05) between the perceived season of severity of the disease vs the sub-counties in which coffee red blister occurred. There was a very very significant association (P˂0.05) between weed infestation rate and sub counties in which coffee red blister disease occurred. There were different field conditions which were perceived to favor the prevalence of coffee red blister disease including but not limited to; unshaded coffee trees, unpruned coffee, unweeded coffee gardens and less fertile garden. There was a very very significant association (P˂0.05) between the most affected coffee varieties and respective sub county in which coffee red blister disease occurred. There was a non-significant association (P˃0.05) between control methods for the control of coffee red blister disease including but not limited to; use of manure, inorganic fertilizers, mulching, reducing shade, fungicide application, and resistant varieties among others. There was a non-significant association (P˃0.05) between the respondents who had ever attended any trainings and the different sub counties where they resided. There was a very very significant association (P˂0.05) between the respondents who had ever listened to radio/TV programs on coffee red blister diseases occurred. There was a non-significant association (P˃0.05) between the frequency of chemical application and the respondents in the different sub counties. There was a very very significant association (P˂0.05) between the frequency of weed management and the sub counties in which coffee red blister occurred. There should be more trainings to sensitize the farmers about the means of spread, signs, symptoms and control of coffee red blister disease. There should be more radio and TV programs to increase on sensitization about the coffee red blister disease to the different stakeholders in the coffee industry. The research institutions in Uganda especially NaCORI should do intensive research and breeding to develop many coffee varieties which are resistant to the coffee red blister disease.