Nyasaland

Bugisu local, Nyasa

Good cup qual­i­ty, but sus­cep­ti­ble to major dis­eases. Pre­ferred by small­hold­er farm­ers in Uganda.

Stature
Tall
Leaf tip color
Light Bronze
Bean Size
Average
Yield Potential
Good
Low
Very High
Quality potential at high altitude
Good
Very Low
Exceptional
Optimal Altitude
Medium, High
5°N to 5°S: >1200m
5–15°N and 5–15°S: >900m
>15°N and >15°S: >700m
Coffee leaf rust
Susceptible
Susceptible
Resistant
Nematode
Unknown
Susceptible
Resistant
Coffee Berry Disease
Susceptible
Susceptible
Resistant

Agronomics

Year of first production
Year 3
Nutrition requirement
Low
Ripening of fruit
Unknown
Cherry to green bean outturn
Average
Planting density
1000-2000 plants/ha (using single-stem pruning)
Additional agronomic information
Resilient variety (e.g., can cope with low management and adverse environmental conditions).

Background

Genetic Description
Bourbon-Typica group (Typica related)
Lineage
Likely Typica-like genetic background.
Breeder
None
History
One of the oldest Arabica coffee varieties introduced to Africa. The variety originates from Typica introduced to Nyasland (now Malawi) in 1878 from Jamaica. By 1891 there was a flourishing coffee industry in Malawi, but eventually declined because of the marginal climate, which is hotter and drier than is usual for Typica, and because of the high incidence of pests including white stem borer. Inexperienced farmers allowed the plants to overbear in the first years, causing a precipitous fall in yields that ultimately led to the abandonment of coffee in Malawi.Nyassaland was taken from Malawi to Uganda in 1910, where farmers also struggled with the variety. Early failure led to the widespread planting of Robusta in Uganda. But in recent years, there has been a small resurgence of Arabica growing on the slopes of Mount Elgon, where Nyasaland (locally called Bugisu) is an important variety for smallholders.
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