Consistency of attack level of coffee berry borer (Hypotenemus hampei Ferr.) on organic and conventional arabica coffee plantation in Aceh Tengah District, Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract

A study has been conducted for 3 consecutive years since 2019 to 2021 to investigate the influence of cultivation system of Arabica coffee against the attack of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei Ferr.) in Arabica coffee plantations in Aceh Tengah District, Aceh Province, Indonesia. We observed the attack level of H. hampei on Arabica coffee plants that were cultivated both organically and conventionally. The results showed that for three years observation, in general, the attack level of coffee berry borer (CBB) on organic and conventional coffee plantations was not significantly different. Observations in 2019 showed that the attack level of CBB on organic coffee plantations ranged from 27-34 % and on conventional coffee plantations ranging from 33-49 %. Observations in 2020 showed that the attack rate of CBB on organic and conventional coffee ranged from 20-40 % and 28-41%, respectively, while observations in 2021 were 25-26 % and 27-28 %. The results of these studies indicate that the level of CBB attack on organic coffee plantations is no different from conventional coffee plantations that routinely use synthetic pesticides. This indicates that in organic coffee plantations, natural enemies have played an important role in suppressing the development of CBB populations. Although the use of synthetic pesticides in conventional coffee plantations can suppress pest populations, it is suspected that these pesticides also play a role in reducing the population of natural enemies of pests. Therefore, organic coffee cultivation is much more profitable, especially it can reduce the cost of buying synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, besides ensuring the safety of coffee farmers, workers, and consumers from harmful chemical contamination from pesticides.