AMOK K
Coffee farmers in Ntungamo District have expressed growing concern over an unidentified disease that is devastating their coffee plantations.
The disease presents symptoms similar to Banana Bacterial Wilt, where coffee leaves turn yellow and gradually dry up. Farmers report that the disease spreads quickly, leaving entire plantations destroyed within a short period.
Godwin Rutaremwa, a coffee farmer from Kagugu Parish in Rubaare Sub-county, revealed that they are currently dealing with about three different diseases affecting their coffee crops. He said that despite their efforts, they have not found any effective treatment.
Daniel Kamutsigazi, another coffee farmer from Nyarwanya, reported that the disease causes the plants to dry up slowly until they completely die, and even the ripe seeds from affected plants are useless.
John Twinomujuni, the LC2 Chairperson of Omungyenyi Parish and also a coffee farmer, stressed that the only current solution is uprooting the affected plantations, which he says is greatly hindering their economic progress.
Farmers are calling for immediate action from the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant authorities to identify the disease and develop a solution before it causes irreversible damage to the coffee industry in Ntungamo and beyond.
