Effectiveness of Modern BROCAP® and Locally Made Traps in Controlling Coffee Berry Borer (iHypothenemus/i ihampei/i Ferrari) in Arabica Coffee

The Coffee berry borer (iHypothenemus/i ihampei/i) is one of the most destructive pests affecting coffee production in Tanzania. As part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, effective trapping methods are crucial for reducing pest populations and minimizing crop damage. This study evaluated the effectiveness of modern BROCAP® traps compared to traditional, locally-made traps in capturing adult CBBs in coffee farms at Uparo village, Moshi Rural District, Kilimanjaro region. A field experiment was conducted from January to December 2019 using a total of 60 traps, 30 BROCAP® traps and 30 modified local traps developed by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI). Each trap was baited with a 1:1 mixture of methylated spirit and water. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) to control for field variability, and data were collected every three days for twelve consecutive months. Statistical analysis was performed using GenStat software, with the Chi-square test used to determine the significance of differences in trap performance. Results showed that BROCAP® traps captured a total of 505.67 adult CBBs, while traditional traps captured 429.00. The greatest performance gaps were observed in May (O–E = –21.00) and July (O–E = –24.33), suggesting that modern traps are more effective during peak infestation periods. The cumulative Chi-square value of 32.38, corresponding to a p-value 0.001, confirmed a statistically significant difference in trap effectiveness. The study revealed that while the BROCAP® trap was more effective in certain months, the locally-made trap performed comparably well throughout the year. This suggests that the modified local trap can be used as an alternative for managing CBB in coffee farms, a technology affordable to smallholder farmers.