Abstract:
Coffee production in Africa has largely stagnated over the past two decades. While the
continent had attained a production level of 19.5 million 60kg bags of coffee in 1997,
production in 2008 was only 17.5 million 60kg. This stagnation has been attributed to a
number of factors including poor management practices and losses due to damage by insect
pests and diseases (Musoli et. al, 2001). The coffee berry borer (CBB) (Hypothenemus
hampei Ferr), considered endemic to the African continent, is undoubtedly the most important
insect pest of coffee in Africa causing significant damage to yield and quality of the crop in
many producer countries. In Africa CBB is regarded as the most prevalent and important
coffee pest and a problem for the coffee industry.