LONDON, Uk – During the 50th anniversary meetings of the ICO in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, the International Coffee Council approved Resolution 453 on the critical situation in East and Central Africa caused by black coffee twig borer.
Here is the integral text of the Resolution.
Critical situation in East and Central Africa caused by black coffee twig borer
WHEREAS:
The Head of the Ugandan delegation has expressed concern regarding the outbreak of the black coffee twig borer (BCTB) which has reached epidemic levels in Uganda with the potential to spread within East and Central Africa, which could have a grave impact on the livelihoods of the coffee growers.
We, the affected countries, hereby appeal to the Council to note this and take measures to support national and regional strategies to combat this infestation;
The current epidemic of black twig borer in coffee is affecting Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In Uganda, the incidence has been registered at 8.6%, causing a loss of 40% of the affected crop. It is the worst seen since this pest appeared in Africa in 1993, and has led Uganda to declare a phytosanitary emergency so as to trigger the necessary national measures to combat the black coffee twig borer;
Given the importance of coffee growing in the region, which has more than 2 million coffee growers and directly provides a livelihood for more than 8 million people in East and Central Africa, this epidemic is expected to have a profound impact on the societies and economies of the region; and
It is estimated that US$42 million worth of Uganda’s coffee (about 0.27 million bags of exportable coffee in Uganda) have already been lost as a result of the black coffee twig borer in coffee year 2012/13, and this will bring about a systematic reduction in the region’s production as from coffee year 2013/14; Governments and the private coffee sector in the region, together are making joint efforts to address this,
THE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE COUNCIL RESOLVES:
1. That ICO Members show leadership in addressing this important issue and support for national actions in Uganda, as well as those in Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania being undertaken to combat the black coffee twig borer in Africa.
2. To call on Members of the international community, through the relevant cooperation mechanisms, to offer assistance to the affected countries by, among other things, technical knowledge, exchange of information, best practices and management of the pest.
3. To ask the ICO Secretariat to support countries affected to address the crisis caused by the black coffee twig borer.
