The effect of Black Coffee Twig Borer infestation on the revenue of smallholder coffee farmers in Mubende district- Kalonga Sub-county.

Abstract

Page | iii ABSTRACT. Coffee is one of the most important crops grown and exported from Uganda. However, the coffee farming sector in Uganda has been threatened by a destructive pest (Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB)). Farmers have limited knowledge about how much (monetary value) they lose as a result of BCTB infestation, due reduced yields or costs incurred in its prevention and control. Therefore, the study was carried out to determine the effect of BCTB on farmers’ revenue in Mubende district. The study was conducted in Kalonga sub-county, Mubende district. Data were collected from a sample of 80 smallholder farmers. The descriptive statistics and a log linear regression model were used in data analysis. Results showed that, the average revenue of coffee farmers in this area was about UGX 2.96M. BCTB infestation and the distance to the market negatively affect the revenue generated from coffee farms. Policy makers should ensure increased provision of the extension services to farmers about the measures that can be used to mitigate the effect of BCTB infestation.