Selection of good planting material

Selection of good quality planting material begins with the selection of suitable coffee species for the local climate. Arabica coffee does well at higher altitudes while Robusta coffee grows better in hotter and more humid areas at lower altitudes. At a moderate altitude of about 1200 to 1500 metres, both Arabica and Robusta varieties can be grown. However, the prevalence of the berry borer and coffee rust are important indicators as to whether the coffee variety is suited to the site conditions. For example, an Arabica plantation at this altitude that is heavily infested by coffee rust and berry borer despite good management conditions is an indication that Arabica is not suited to the site and should, in time, be replaced with Robusta.

In addition to the coffee species, varieties which are resistant to common diseases like coffee wilt disease (CWD), coffee berry disease (CBD) or coffee leaf rust (CLR) should be selected. These improved varieties can be obtained through local extension officers or coffee research stations. It is advisable to plant different varieties in a coffee garden. In case one variety develops susceptibility to a certain pest, disease or even an environmental stress, then the whole field will not be threatened to be wiped out.

Common varieties grown in selected countries:

Variety	Species	Country	Comments
Ruiri II	Arabica	Kenya	For all areas, resistant to CBD and CLR
SL 28	Arabica	Kenya	Medium to high areas without serious CLR
SL 34	Arabica	Kenya	High areas with good rainfall
K7	Arabica	Kenya	Low areas with CLR
Batian	Arabica	Kenya	Resistant to CBD and CLR
Arusha	Arabica	Tanzania
Ethiopian Harar	Arabica	Ethiopia
Ethiopian Sidamo	Arabica	Ethiopia
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe	Arabica	Ethiopia
Nganda and Erecta clones	Robusta	Uganda, Mainly for clonal coffee
Tuzza (catimor)	Arabica	Uganda	Low areas, resistant to CBD
Java	Arabica	Cameroon	Resistant to CBD

In Africa, coffee is commonly propagated by seed. This is because it is easy and quick to raise seedlings by seed. Such coffee does, however, take longer to grow than vegetatively propagated coffee. Vegetative propagation (e.g. by clonal cuttings) has the advantage that the coffee will carry all the qualities of the parent plant. Cuttings are ideally obtained from selected mother gardens of desired varieties (e.g. with resistance to common diseases or high yielding). A mother garden is a parent garden reserved for supplying cuttings/scions for multiplication of given varieties. Coffee plants raised from clonal cuttings bear fruits 24 to 36 months after transplanting, whereas plants grown from seeds bear fruit commonly only after 36 months.

Coffee can also be propagated by grafting or micropropagation (tissue culture). These techniques, however, require specially trained personnel and are not easily applicable by small-holder farmers.

Whenever production of planting materials is outsourced, they should originate from either a registered nursery or one known to produce good quality seedlings.

In organic production of planting materials, rooting hormones are not allowed.

Recommendations to farmers on raising coffee seedlings by seed:

Obtain good-sized, very ripe berries from pest and disease free high-yielding trees. Check the viability of the seeds by putting the berries in a bucket of water. Select only the berries that sink (good ones). Remove the pulp by hand or pulping machine and soak the beans in water for 24 hours to remove the mucilage. Wash the beans and air-dry in a well-ventilated environment for at least 4 days.
Seeds can be either directly placed into plastic bags, filled with a good mixture of compost and topsoil, or in a nursery bed to produce better seedlings. Construct a shade above the bed. Sow the seeds on shallow rows and water the seedbed regularly, but it should not get too wet.
Seedlings will be ready to transplant to polybags in about 8 weeks (i.e. when they have 2-3 pairs of leaves). Putting seedlings into polybags ensures minimal disturbance to roots during final transplanting to the field. It also makes long distance transportation of seedlings more convenient.
Transplant the seedlings to the garden when they have 6 to 8 pairs of leaves, in about 5 to 6 months. Choose only healthy and vigorously growing seedlings with dark green well-formed leaves for planting. Before planting out in the field, harden the coffee seedlings by increasing exposure to the sun daily over a period of two weeks.

Recommendations to farmers on raising coffee seedlings by cuttings:

Select pest and disease free, high-yielding trees within the coffee plantation. Harvest the cuttings from suckers, which are about 6 months old and bearing 4 to 6 pairs of leaves. Harvest early in the morning when the atmospheric relative humidity is high. Partially remove the leaves before cutting. Cut finger- sized vertical shoots of about 30 cm to obtain a clone.
Put the cuttings in a germination box and cover with clear polythene sheeting suspended 1 metre above the rooting medium to induce high humidity. The boxes may also be placed in a germination chamber constructed on the farm or at a seed multiplication centre. Cuttings will produce roots and shoots within 8 to 10 weeks.
Prick the seedlings into individual polybags with rich composite soil mixture consisting of topsoil, river/lake sand and compost. Seedlings are ready to transplant within 6 to 8 months, with about 6 pairs of leaves. Harden the seedlings by gradually reducing the shade. Reduce the shade by half when the seedlings are 8 to 9 months old and reduce the shade completely one month before transplanting.

Discussion on propagation of coffee

Ask the farmers how they prepare coffee planting materials to establish new coffee gardens. Discuss the approaches together, while noting any shortcomings, and then introduce the guidelines above.