Philippine E-Journals

Organically Grown Arabica Coffee in Mountain Province: Growing Areas, Production Practices, Varieties, Pest and Diseases

Valentino Macanes | Belinda A. Tad-awan | Lome Barrozo | Von Y. Amado | Joyce D. Mauricio

Discipline: Agriculture

 

Abstract:

The scope of the study conducted in 2015-2016 covered seven municipalities of Mountain Province namely: Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sagada, and Tadian. Purposive sampling and focus group discussions were employed to organic producers of Arabica coffee to identify growing areas, production practices, varieties and pests and diseases. In-situ identification and characterization of Arabica coffee varieties were done using IPGRI descriptors list. Results revealed 103 farmers with 23.99 hectares planted to 26,378 Arabica coffee trees for organic production. The areas are suitable and all the farmers practice Agroforestry System in their backyards for coffee production. The farmers used wildlings as planting materials with closely planted trees and no fertilization. Few practice rejuvenation. The varieties grown are Typica, Bourbon Red, San Ramon, Granica and Mundo Novo. These varieties have elliptic leaves, small white very fragrant flowers, green unripe berries but colors vary during ripening. The varieties have spreading primary branches except San Ramon which has short branches. One hundred one Arabica coffee accessions were documented. Laboratory examinations were conducted for pests and diseases identification. The plant diseases are coffee leaf rust (Hemeleia vastratix B. and Br.), sooty mold (Capnodium brasilensis Put.), brown eye spot (Cercospora coffeicola Berk, Cke), coffee berry diseases (Colletotrichum kahawae Waller and Bridge), die back (Colletotrichum spp. Noack), brown leaf spot (Phoma costaricensis Ech.) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum coffeanum Noack). The insect pests found are scale insects (Coccus viridis Green), coffee berry borer (Hypothemus hampei Ferrari) and stem borer (Zeuzera coffea Nietner).