Fresh threat for coffee industry: berry borer

Alarm is being expressed that Jamaica's billion dollar coffee industry could be in jeopardy due to the rapid spread of the berry borer pest which is wreaking havoc on the sector.

Word from the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is that the rate of infestation has increased with the pest destroying several acres of coffee.

According to JAS President Senator Norman Grant the current coffee crop is at risk.

“The coffee berry borer infestation for the present crop is at an alarmingly high level. In previous crops berry borer infestation was between five and six per cent, in this crop we are seeing infestation in the region of 15 to 18 per cent and in some situations it is as high as 25 per cent,” said Senator Grant.

He says the disease has spread to the Blue Mountain coffee crop and this has resulted in a delay in shipments:

“More than 30 to 40 per cent behind in terms of shipments. The repercussions of that is certainly that the quality could affect the overall out turn of the crop and have some implications as it relates to pricing,” he said.

More >>