The Role of Bee Pollinators in Improving Berry Weight and Coffee Cup Quality

Rebecca H.N Karanja,Mary W Gikungu,Grace N Njoroge,L.E Newton,John M Kihoro

doi:10.19026/ajas.5.4841

Abstract

The study was conducted at Kiambu County in Kenya. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pollination improves the coffee yield and quality of processed coffee in terms of taste and aroma. Among the parameters evaluated when grading coffee for sale in world market are berry weight and cup quality. No previous work in Kenya describes the role of bee pollinators in enhancement of coffee yields and quality. Data on berry weights and the resulting processed coffee quality from different pollination levels in organically grown coffee were analyzed. Results from this study indicate that coffee benefits immensely from pollinators. The highest berry weight and coffee cup quality were recorded in open pollinated and cross pollinated coffee. There were significant differences in weight and cup quality (p<0.001) between open pollinated coffee and wind pollination, self pollination and autogamy. The study concludes that pollination not only improves the coffee yields but also enhance the coffee cup taste and aroma. High quality coffee fetches higher prices in the world coffee market.

Highlights

In agriculture, pollination is an important input in crop production comparable to any other input of crop production such as fertilizer, labor or pesticides (Kasina, 2007)
Marketability of coffee in international trade depends on coffee quality which is dependent on bean size, bean weight or density, bean shape and color, processing of the coffee and coffee cup quality
Berry weights: Berry weights were used as an indication of coffee yield since the heavier the berry, the higher the yield (Manrique and Thiemann, 2002)

Summary

Introduction

Pollination is an important input in crop production comparable to any other input of crop production such as fertilizer, labor or pesticides (Kasina, 2007). Most crops produce optimally in presence of pollinators (Ricketts, 2004). Coffee is among the world’s most popular beverage and the quality of coffee determines its marketability. Marketability of coffee in international trade depends on coffee quality which is dependent on bean size, bean weight or density, bean shape and color, processing of the coffee and coffee cup quality (taste, flavor and cleanliness of the coffee). The bigger the bean size the higher the quality. Coffee beans weight or density is important for its quality. Light beans over-roast during normal roasting and reduce the flavor, acidity and often introduce a flattish, common or ordinary taste that can turn a potentially fine cup of coffee into a mediocre one (ITC, 2002)

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