Uganda appeals for action on coffee wilt disease

29 July 1997

Uganda appeals for action on coffee wilt disease

UGANDA has appealed to global coffee researchers to find ways of combating a coffee wilt disease destroying the crop in the east African nation.

Kibirige Ssebunya, minister of state for agriculture, says tracheomycosis has hit large parts of the countrys growing areas.

Meanwhile, Ted Linke, president of the Speciality Coffee Association of America, has told east African countries that they could increase their coffee output fourfold if they joined forces and shared information: “The east African countries have the labour base and the land area. They are under-capitalised and would need some long-term investment, but the possibility is there,” he said.