Coffee Farmers in Gulmi Suffering from White Stem Borer Disease
June 25, Gulmi – “My coffee plants, which had grown so well, were infected by white stem borer. After years of hard work, having to cut down the plants is truly disheartening. I’m deeply worried about how to save coffee farming,” said coffee farmer Maya Bhattarai from Bhadkuwa, Rurukshetra Rural Municipality-1, Gulmi. This is not her alone who is facing such hardship. Hundreds of farmers in Gulmi, known as the cradle of coffee, along with those in Arghakhanchi and Pyuthan, are currently grappling with the same problem. Challenges such as insect infections, lack of quality seedlings, limited technical knowledge, irrigation issues, and marketing concerns have increasingly worried coffee growers lately.
“The white stem borer has caused devastating damage. At the time of fruiting, we have to cut the trees down,” said coffee farmer Harilal Paudel from Chhatra Dev Rural Municipality-6, Arghakhanchi. “Farmers’ investments are going to waste, and there is no secure environment for production.” Gulmi, renowned as the coffee district, has a rich history of production. In recent years, farmers here have been emphasizing commercial coffee cultivation as their main source of income. However, despite increased production, unresolved plant health issues have demoralized many farmers.
To identify and address these issues, the Coffee Development Center in Ampchaur, Gulmi, has coordinated with coffee producers, exporters, and cooperatives to implement problem-solving programs in Tamghas, the district headquarters. Organized today under the annual approved program for fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26), the event saw participation from leading coffee farmers from Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, and Pyuthan. Participating farmers openly discussed their challenges, with white stem borer infection cited as the most complex problem.
In addition, farmers reported other issues such as the coffee cherry drying out during winter as before, poor seed quality hampering seedling growth, leaf spot diseases, and a lack of necessary technical knowledge directly affecting production. They also cited insufficient shade and irrigation as additional challenges to coffee farming. Furthermore, inconsistent marketing practices prevent producers from getting fair prices, causing financial losses to farmers.
At the program, key officials including Navraj Pandit, Chief of the National Agricultural Modernization Program in Gulmi; Rahul Pandey, Senior Horticulture Officer at the Coffee Development Center, Ampchaur; Naresh Dhital, Head of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, Gulmi; and Somanath Sapkota, Vice President of the District Cooperative Union, addressed farmers’ queries. They emphasized the essential need for coordinated collaboration among all relevant stakeholders to resolve the sector’s issues. They further stressed strengthening cooperation among farmers, cooperatives, governmental bodies, local authorities, and the private sector to organize coffee production, processing, marketing, and export effectively. Moreover, priorities should include pest and disease control, quality seedling production, expansion of technical services, and market management.
The Agricultural Knowledge Center in Gulmi confirmed that over 1,800 farmers in the district are currently engaged in commercial coffee cultivation – the district where Nepal’s commercial coffee farming began. Concern remains that unless rising challenges from pests, diseases, and marketing issues are addressed, farmers’ interest in coffee cultivation may decline.