Economic losses due toHypothenemus hampeiFerr. during processing of coffee berries in Jamaica

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Abstract
Randomly collected samples of harvested ripe coffee berries were processed manually in the laboratory simulating the mechanical operations practiced locally. Beans obtained were assessed for the incidence of damage caused by Hypothenemus hampei Ferr. Data presented demonstrate the important role played by the pest in contributing to further losses of the crop during processing. For the 1980/81 crop, it is estimated that 27.7% (equivalent to US$1,887,126) of the quantity of coffee purchased at the six pulperies operated by the Coffee Industry Board would have been lost to export, 20.9% of this as a result of damage caused by H. hampei. Approximately 4% of the crop lost to export was undamaged but rejected as some of the berries floated on water after processing. Results strongly suggest that a comprehensive assessment of the economic dangers posed by this pest for the coffee industry should include quantification of losses during every phase of production, processing and marketing. These results are expected to provide the basis for further studies to facilitate a realistic estimation of the overall economic loss to the industry and predict it from data collected in the field.

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