Ethiopia: Ministry Calls for Concerted Efforts to Prevent Coffee Wilt Disease

Plant Pathology Senior expert with the Ministry, Getaneh Belete, told WIC recently that the coffee wilt disease that has been spreading widely in coffee growing areas across the country is causing serious impact on the income of farmers and the country's economy.

The senior expert said the disease which surfaced seven years ago in the western parts of the country has spread to Oromia, SNNP, Amhara and Gambella states as well as other coffee growing areas. It is particularly causing serious damage in Jimma, Wollega, Illubabr, Gedeo, Bench Majji and Keffa zones, he added.

Though there are 10 different kinds of coffee diseases in the country, coffee wilt diseases of various types cause huge damage, Getaneh said. As a result, the country has been on average losing 3.7 USD annually, the senior expert revealed.

Therefore, Getaneh urged farmers, agricultural professionals and development agents to frequently inspect their farms and take swift preventive measures as the disease could easily spread.

The ministry is exerting efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and contain it in collaboration with research centres and state agricultural bureaux, he said adding that it is also offering awareness raising training instrumental in implementing traditional prevention methods.