TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE AT NARO'S INSTITUTES

Technologies Released at CORI

Achievements

Robusta Coffee:
Development of new clonal varieties do deal with the coffee wilt disease (CWD) problem, investigations on crop management practices including intercropping coffee with annual crops and coffee/banana inter-cropping systems, integrated weed management and use of organic fertilizers have been conducted. Alternative insect pests control measures, which reduce dependence on expensive chemical pesticides and are environmentally safe e.g. biological control, are being studied.

Knowledge of CWD pathogen identification, better understanding of the transmission and spread of CWD and the response of the six elite/clonal robusta coffee varieties to the disease are some of the developments and studies being carried out.

Selection for resistance/tolerance to CWD from local germplasm from which 65 single plants were identified and are being multiplied for further evaluation. Newly selected clonal materials are currently undergoing evaluation in Mukono, Bushenyi, and Rukungiri districts. The chances of obtaining clones with resistance to CWD, which can be grown in a range of environments, are being investigated. However, resistance works hand in hand with sound crop management techniques. Recommendations for intercropping Robusta coffee with bananas and annual crops have been developed and are to be verified on-farm.

Soil fertility improvement packages using locally available organic fertilizers have been developed. New herbicides have been recommended for weed management/ control for large-scale robusta coffee production. The institute has identified useful parasitoids of main pests, and is currently developing a biological control programme in association with other international agencies. In addition, the institute carries the sole responsibility of producing materials for clonal coffee mother gardens and elite Robusta Coffee Seeds.

Arabica:
Evaluation of new introductions, yield improvement, coupled with resistance to coffee berry disease (CBD), leaf rust and quality. These were accomplished through hybridisation between arabica and Robusta coffee. Field evaluation of fungicides and insecticides for control of major diseases and pests were conducted. Modification of chemical control procedures for pests to reduce costs and enhance efficiency and the development of biological pest control strategies were initiated. Improvement of soil fertility and crop management also received attention.

Selections have been made from the introductions of varieties from Papua New Guinea, Kenya and Cook Island, which show better yield performance and resistance to leaf rust than the current recommended materials in the traditional Arabica areas.

Evaluation of the introduced varieties in the lowland areas traditionally suited to Robusta coffee also gave good yields comparable to robusta coffee, with marked resistance to leaf rust and red blister disease. The varieties are undergoing final evaluation on-farms prior to release to farmers.

Three fungicides Copper Nordox 50, Copper Nordox 75 and Kocide 101 have been selected for controlling CBD, leaf rust and suppressing bacterial blight. Development of alternative insecticide application strategies to reduce costs and enhance efficiency of pests' control is nearing completion. Recommendations have also been developed for intercropping arabica coffee with bananas as well as fertilizer regimes.

Cocoa:
Introduction of high yielding varieties in order to raise the yield potential of existing materials. The new varieties will provide planting materials to replace aging plantations, improve plantation management, and development of efficient pests and disease management packages. Introduced materials quarantined on Ddamba Island in Lake Victoria are currently being evaluated prior to their transfer to the mainland. These together with selections from farmers' fields will be developed for release to farmers. Work is also in progress at Kituza to select pesticides for pests and disease control, develop procedures for cultural and biological of pests and disease control, and to develop efficient plantation management practices.

Oil Palm:
The Coffee Research Centre has mainly focused on identifying suitable areas for growing oil palm in Uganda, importation of elite oil palm varieties and their agronomic evaluation, and production of planting materials for distribution to farmers. Tenera hybrid varieties imported from Costa Rica have been planted out at Kituza and are being assessed for growth, diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies and their correction, identification of pests and disease and their control. A nursery unit has been established at Kituza for raising planting materials for distribution to farmers.

Contact us at :
Coffee Research Institute (CORI)
P.O BOX 185 KITUZA, MUKONO, UGANDA
Tel: 256-77700725
E-mail: cori@africaonline.co.ug