Improvement of Coffee Production in Africa by the Control of Coffee Wilt Disease (Tracheomycosis)

The project is designed to improve coffee production through control of the coffee wilt disease (tracheomycosis) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. The disease destroys coffee trees and can wipe out whole coffee plantations, causing serious loss to both Arabica and Robusta coffee farmers. Reports indicate that the disease is spreading to Tanzania and Rwanda. The project is attempting to control the spread of coffee wilt disease by implementing two main components. The first component involves the implementation of a regional programme to research and develop improved management practices to control the coffee wilt disease. The second component involves the development of a compatible programme of extension, information dissemination and training for small coffee producers to enable them to adopt the improved management practices.