Climatic Conditions in Relation to the Spread of Coffee Berry Disease since 1962 in the East Rift Districts of Kenya

Abstract

This paper offers an explanation for the sudden extension in range of coffee berry disease in East Rift districts of Kenya after 1961. The spread was into lower-altitude districts which had previously been disease-free. Climatic conditions in the East Rift before and after 1961 are considered in relation to the known moisture and temperature requirements of the causal agent with the object of finding whether changes in these are adequate to account for the new situation.