third trip report – cbb survey in telefomin, png cbb... · with cbb spreading eastwards through...

AACCIIAARR PPrroojjeecctt CCPP//22000077//111111

IInnccuurrssiioonn PPrreevveennttiioonn aanndd MMaannaaggeemmeenntt ooff CCooffffeeee BBeerrrryy BBoorreerr ((CCBBBB)) iinn PPaappuuaa NNeeww GGuuiinneeaa ((PPNNGG)) aanndd

IInnddoonneessiiaa ((SSoouutthh SSuullaawweessii aanndd PPaappuuaa))

TThhiirrdd TTrriipp RReeppoorrtt –– CCBBBB SSuurrvveeyy iinn TTeelleeffoommiinn,, PPNNGG

25 October - 10 November 2009

CABI Southeast & East Asia

P.O Box 210, UPM Post Office, 43400 Serdang Selangor, Malaysia

AACCIIAARR PPrroojjeecctt CCPP//22000077//111111

IInnccuurrssiioonn PPrreevveennttiioonn aanndd MMaannaaggeemmeenntt ooff

CCooffffeeee BBeerrrryy BBoorreerr ((CCBBBB)) iinn PPaappuuaa NNeeww GGuuiinneeaa ((PPNNGG)) aanndd IInnddoonneessiiaa ((SSoouutthh SSuullaawweessii aanndd PPaappuuaa))

TThhiirrdd TTrriipp RReeppoorrtt –– CCBBBB SSuurrvveeyy iinn TTeelleeffoommiinn,, PPNNGG

25 October - 10 November 2009

By

Bryoni Taylor and Sean T. Murphy CABI Europe UK, Bakeham Lane, Egham, TW20 9TY UK

CAB International Southeast & East Asia P.O Box 210, UPM Post

43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Objectives

3.0 Methods

3.1 The abundance and location of coffee Telefomin area/design of surveillance

methods

3.2 The presence or absence of CBB on local coffee

3.3 Training of CIC and local DPI officers

3.4 Regular sampling regimes and an emergency procedure in the event of detection of

suspected CBB

3.5 Identify possible pathways of spread from Indonesia to PNG, and internal pathways

within PNG

4.0 Results

4.1 The abundance and location of coffee Telefomin area/design of surveillance

methods



4.4 Regular sampling regimes and an emergency procedure in the event of detection of

suspected CBB

4.5 Identify possible pathways of spread from Indonesia to PNG, and internal pathways

within PNG

4.6 Review of the draft pathways and vectors report

5.0 Conclusions

1.0 Introduction

Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) has recently been reported in Eastern Indonesia in Oskabil, only 80km

from the border. With CBB spreading eastwards through Indonesia, the coffee industry of PNG is

under threat from the accidental introduction of CBB. Possible pathways of introduction have been

investigated and reported as part of this project, with one of the identified risk areas being the

coffee growing areas along the border of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia (Ngere, 2009). Under

the ACIAR project, a trip was organised for CABI experts to accompany personnel from the Coffee

Industry Corporation (CIC) to these coffee growing areas, to establish the presence or absence of

CBB and train CIC personnel and local Department of Primary Industry (DPI) officers in CBB

detection and surveillance methods (project objective 3). The opportunity was also taken to review

the draft report on pathways and vectors for coffee berry borer movement prepared by CIC (Ngere,

2009) (project objective 2)

2.0 Objectives

Objectives of the visit were to visit several villages* close to the PNG-Indonesia border to establish

the following:

1) The abundance and location of coffee in the area and the design of appropriate surveillance

methods

2) The presence or absence of CBB on local coffee

3) Train CIC and local DPI officers to recognise the signs and symptoms of CBB infestation

4) Set up regular sampling regimes and an emergency procedure in the event of detection of

suspected CBB

5) Assess coffee growing areas and identify possible pathways of spread from Indonesia to PNG,

and internal pathways within PNG; and appropriate surveillance schemes.

6) Review the draft pathways and vectors report

*Due to transport difficulties, it was only possible to survey Telefomin and produce a detailed report

for this area.

3.0 Methods

3.1 The abundance and location of coffee Telefomin area/design of

surveillance methods

Telefomin is a remote village which is about 60 km from the PNG Indonesia border. The village is

connected to the rest of PNG by regular supply flights originating from Mt. Hagen and the small

mining town of Tabubil, but planes may be chartered to visit other locations from Telefomin. The

village has basic infrastructure with only 1 or 2 working vehicles and the main mode of transport is

either on foot within the village, or air transport to leave the area. Historically Telefomin was a

coffee producing area, growing and transporting coffee to traders in Mt. Hagen, however the status

of coffee growing in the area currently is unknown and warrants further investigation.

A meeting was held with the local DPI officers and from discussions, the abundance and

distribution of local coffee gardens was determined and its distribution mapped. To introduce

structure to the sampling procedure, a grid system was employed to divide up the local Telefomin

area into 6 grids, using the main road as the central dividing point. Surveys were then carried out in

each grid with coffee to establish the presence or absence of CBB in each of the areas. By

establishing a grid for the area, it was possible to ensure an unbiased geographical sample was

taken. All surveys were carried out on foot due to lack of vehicles and suitable roads, therefore

locations only within 3h walk of Telefomin were surveyed because of difficult terrain.


The Coffee Berry Borer is a small scolitid beetle which infests coffee berries by mostly boring into

the distal end of the berry and laying multiple eggs within the endosperm. These eggs hatch out to

produce small larvae which consume the contents of the endosperm. The adult female never

leaves the berry once entered. This behaviour allows the use of para-taxonomy techniques to

identify possible infestations- the presence of a bore hole in or close to the distal end of the coffee

berry indicates entry of a boring insect. Dissection can be used to establish the presence or

absence of CBB and it’s young. Normally only one side of the coffee berry is attacked. Coffee berry

borer traps may also be used to monitor the presence of CBB. However, traps attract other insects

also and an expert taxonomist is required to reliably identify CBB from other scolitids.

Employing these methods, coffee gardens were visited and berries were examined for signs of CBB

infestation. The symptom most diagnostic of CBB infestation is the presence of a bore hole in the

distal end of the coffee berry. Berries displaying symptoms were collected for dissection to confirm

the presence or absence of CBB. Dissection was carried out by carefully cutting the area

surrounding the bore of the coffee berry and examining the dissected hole using a x10 magnifier.

The presence or absence of an insect was noted and whether or not it was CBB (Figure 1). Coffee

Berry Borer traps were also placed in the gardens visited.

Figure 1 Methodology for dissecting the coffee berries.


Local officers were trained in surveillance methods and how to look for symptoms of CBB; any

berries displaying similar symptoms were collected and labelled. These were later examined and

dissected to confirm the presence or absence of CBB.

3.4 Regular sampling regimes and an emergency procedure in the event of

detection of suspected CBB

To establish the presence or absence of CBB in the area over time, regular surveys needed to be

established. Surveys during the trip were set up in accordance with the grid locations established

(Figure 2). Traps were set up in each grid location and samples were collected once a month for

examination at a later date. Discussions were held with the local DPI officers to highlight the course

of action that would be required if they suspected CBB to be present in the area. It was agreed that

CIC should revisit the area once every 3 months to collect samples from both traps and any

suspected bored berries.

Emergency response measures, in the event of CBB being detected, are still under discussion with

CIC and also with the National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA).

3.5 Identify possible pathways of spread from Indonesia to PNG, and internal

pathways within PNG

Discussions were held with the local DPI officers to establish the movement of people over the

border and what particular routes are most commonly taken; this aimed to establish which routed

would be of major importance to survey.

4.0 Results

4.1 The abundance and location of coffee Telefomin area/design of

surveillance methods

Prior to travel to Telefomin, it was believed that the area was a major coffee growing area exporting

coffee to Mt. Hagen via MAF flights. Meetings with the local DPI officers established that coffee

growing in the area had declined substantially over the past decade with no coffee having been

exported from Telefomin since about 1996. Surveys confirmed that many of the coffee gardens are

now abandoned and cut down and that coffee has been grown in the region for local consumption

only. No major plantations are found in this region. A review of the area established that there were

few coffee gardens remaining in the Telefomin area (Figure 2). It was also established that the

variety grown in Telefomin was Arabica.

2-3 gardens between 1-3h walk

2 gardens approx 2h walk 1 garden approx 2h

walk

No gardens

1 coffee garden approx 4h walk

1 garden on ridge (unknown distance)

1

6

5

4

3

2 Telefomin Airport

Figure 2 Map of coffee gardens in Telefomin. Telefomin and surrounding areas were divided into 6

grid sections (labelled 1-6) and an approximation of the location and distance of the coffee gardens

from the town centre was made (shaded area is central Telefomin). Coffee gardens were found in

surrounding villages and approximate walking times are given.

In surrounding areas, it was confirmed that coffee was grown in similar ways in the villages of

Tekin, Oksapmin and Yapsie. However, it was highlighted that the variety of coffee grown in Yapsie

was Robusta, which is the natural host of CBB in its native range in Africa. This alerted immediate

concern due to the vicinity of Yapsie to the PNG Indonesian border and an immediate

recommendation was made to visit this area to survey for CBB.

During discussions with the DPI officers, it became apparent that Telefomin is in the process of

receiving government support for the rehabilitation of coffee within the area. It is hoped that this will

improve the livelihoods of local residents and bring valuable income into the area as mining work

decreases. However, the rehabilitation of coffee in this area needs to be put in context of the

emerging pest problem over the border in Indonesia and it is recommended that this is taken into

consideration if rehabilitation goes ahead. By receiving this grant for coffee rehabilitation, the

increased trade and transport of coffee between Telefomin and Mt. Hagen may produce a pathway

for CBB to jump from border villages to Mt. Hagen. Also, the new coffee gardens may be at

significant risk from attack by the pest if it moves eastwards into PNG, damaging yields for farmers

and ultimately their livelihoods.


Surveys were conducted in each of the grid locations within Telefomin (Figure 2), by inspecting for

the presence of bored berries. On several of the sites, berries with distal bores were found,

however only 1 or 2 berries with these symptoms were found per site. These were taken back from

the field and dissected to establish the presence/absence of CBB. Results showed that there are

local beetle borers which attack the distal end of the coffee berry which mimics the diagnostic distal

end bore. Many of the bores were found to be empty (see Figure 3) where the insect has attacked

the distal end, then retreated from the berry without laying eggs. One bore hole was found to be

harbouring a small scolitid beetle (Figure 4 A), however, this was not CBB. In another berry, a small

insect was found, although it was not a scolitid beetle (Figure 4 B). In another damaged berry, a

fruit fly larva was found. Examples of the types of holes observed can be seen in Figure 5.

Figure 3 Entry hole in the distal end of coffee berry. The entry hole was unoccupied suggesting it

was an opportunistic attack by an insect, possibly another species of Scolitid.

Figure 4 A) The distal end of a dissected coffee berry which has been bored. The arrow points to

an insect discovered within the borehole. B) Insect found inhabiting hole (in different berry).

A B

Figure 5 Examples of holes found in coffee berries in Telefomin. A few distal bored holes were

observed. ‘A‘ shows a distal boring of the berry very similar to the attack seen when CBB is

present. ‘B’ shows a more general hole found laterally on the berry which has been attacked around

the edges. These in general, are not classic of CBB attack, but were inspected anyway.


DPI officers accompanied CABI and CIC on the surveys conducted. Officers were shown how to

look for suspected CBB infested berries and to collect them. Due to the presence of a local borer

which is also attacking the distal end of the coffee berries, a recommendation is made that if

multiple bored berries are found at any site then the CIC must be informed immediately. The level

of berries bored per site by the local borer was very low and concern only need be raised if the

number of bored berries increases above an arbitrary threshold value, for example 5 berries per

site.

4.4 Regular sampling regimes and an emergency procedure in the event of

detection of suspected CBB

It was agreed that even though Telefomin currently remains free of CBB, that it must be monitored

due to its position close to the border. Ideally surveys would be carried out every 3 months by the

CIC, however, if the DPI officers in Telefomin suspect CBB is present (i.e. the number of bored

A B

berries increases above 5 per site for instance) then they are to contact the CIC and they will send

an expert immediately to investigate. Under no circumstances must they send suspected CBB

bored berries to CIC as this would pose a risk of spreading CBB to other areas. Other coffee

gardens in surrounding villages such as Oksapmin and Tekin need to be monitored also.

4.5 Identify possible pathways of spread from Indonesia to PNG, and internal

pathways within PNG

Through discussions with the DPI officers, it was found there is a main route to the border that

people walk along from Telefomin, and it is likely there is a risk that coffee berries for personal

consumption are carried along these paths which could potentially be infested. Discarded berries

were found along these routes during surveys. It also became apparent that the border was ‘leaky’

and often Indonesians seek refuge over the border in PNG. These unrecorded crossings of the

border present a high risk if the people originate from areas which harbour CBB in Indonesia and

transport coffee for personal consumption. It was established that these pathways are an important

risk regarding the introduction of CBB, as, although the insect is able to fly to find new hosts, the

transport of infested material is a distinct possibility that will bring CBB into new areas.

4.6 Review of the draft pathways and vectors report

A draft of the pathways report (Ngere, 2009) was reviewed and proved to be useful in the planning

of surveillance and monitoring schemes on a national scale. The draft report is now to be circulated

to CIC senior personnel for comment before distribution e.g. to NAQIA.

The pathways report highlighted the major ports of entry into PNG and how coffee is moved within

PNG. It was decided that the monitoring of the ports for the presence of CBB is vital to prevent

entry and spread of the pest. This may involve sampling directly from gunny bags, complemented

with the monitoring of port areas using CBB traps. Sampling protocols and survey designs were

discussed in relation to these ports of entry and organisations which would be responsible for the

monitoring and sampling at ports need to be identified. This will be covered in the next CABI trip to

PNG, along with training requirements.

Currently, for main coffee growing regions, CBB traps are deployed and monitored by CIC, however

after discussion, it was decided that sampling for CBB would be most effective following a transect

from Eastern Chimbu through to the Western Highlands. CIC would be responsible for carrying out

these surveys as often as every 2 months. Surveys would comprise of sampling berries displaying

symptoms as described above. Sampling units are to be comprised of small holder farms either

side of the main road connecting these areas and approx 10km apart. Traps would be re-deployed

strategically to areas of high risk, to complement the surveillance schemes at ports.

With data gathered from traps and monitoring schemes at ports of entry, along with results from the

transect surveys, a database to collate all the results will need to be designed and implemented to

capture all the results from these various schemes. Samples will need to be catalogued in

association with this database. Many of these topics will be addressed during the next CABI visit in

2010.

5.0 Conclusions

• CBB does not yet seem to be present within Telefomin however, regular monitoring must

be continued. • Local boring insects are present which replicate the symptoms of CBB, however the density

of these are very low. • If a higher density of bored berries is detected on any one site, the DPI officers should

contact CIC immediately and trained personnel should travel to Telefomin to investigate.

• Suspected infested berries must not be transported TO CIC as this may pose a risk of

spreading CBB. • Regular surveys must be conducted in high risk border areas – possibly every 3 months. • A follow up investigation of Yapsie is imperative as Robusta coffee is the natural host of

CBB. • Surveys need to be carried out in Oksapmin and Tekin. (These were not conducted on this

trip as planned due to logistical issues). • CIC should decide whether coffee rehabilitation is the best route to go down for the people

of Telefomin; given the vicinity of such a devastating pest in Indonesia, the possibility that

quarantine bands may need to be imposed on the discovery of CBB and also, with the

livelihoods of the farmers in mind. Other cash crops could potentially be investigated. • Organisations for the monitoring of coffee entering PNG need to be identified and

personnel trained. • Surveys should be conducted from Eastern Chimbu to the Western Highlands inspecting

small holder farms for signs of infestation. • Results from all of these surveys and monitoring schemes need to be collated on a central

database. References

Ngere, O. (2009) Pathways and vectors for coffee berry borer movement and management strategy

in PNG. Draft report, Coffee Industry Coporation, Goroka, PNG.

third trip report – cbb survey in telefomin, png cbb... · with cbb spreading eastwards through...

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