While fulfilling the food demand of an increasing population remains a major global concern, more than one-third of food is lost or wasted in postharvest operations. Reducing the postharvest losses, especially in developing countries, could be a sustainable solution to increase food availability, reduce pressure on natural resources, eliminate hunger and improve farmers’ livelihoods. Cereal grains are the basis of staple food in most of the developing nations, and account for the maximum postharvest losses on a calorific basis among all agricultural commodities. As much as 50%–60% cereal grains can be lost during the storage stage due only to the lack of technical inefficiency. Use of scientific storage methods can reduce these losses to as low as 1%–2%. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review of the grain postharvest losses in developing countries, the status and causes of storage losses and discusses the technological interventions to reduce these losses. The basics of hermetic storage, various technology options, and their effectiveness on several crops in different localities are discussed in detail.

Reducing Postharvest Losses during Storage of Grain Crops to Strengthen Food Security in Developing Countries

http://biblio.iita.org/documents/U14ArtAbassPostharvestInthomDev.pdf-608a86dd987926565841fccb38f388ce.pdf

Post-harvest food losses in a maize-based farming system of semi-arid savannah area of Tanzania

This paper reviews and discusses how studies on (i) on-farm diversity assessment, (ii) access to diversity and information, (iii) extent of use of available materials and information, and (iv) benefits obtained by the farmer or farming community from their use of local crop diversity, are necessary to identify the different ways of supporting farmers and farming communities in the maintenance of traditional varieties and crop genetic diversity within their production systems. Throughout this paper two key themes are emphasized. First, any description or analysis within the four main areas (assessment, access, use and benefit) can, and most probably will, lead to a number of different actions. Second, the decision to implement a particular action, and therefore its success, will depend on farmers and the farming community having the knowledge and leadership capacity to evaluate the benefits that this action will have for them. This in turn emphasizes the importance of activities (whether by local, national...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07352689.2011.554358

An Heuristic Framework for Identifying Multiple Ways of Supporting the Conservation and Use of Traditional Crop Varieties within the Agricultural Production System

Grain storage loss is a major contributor to post-harvest losses and is one of the main causes of food insecurity for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Thus, the objective of this review is to assess the conventional and emerging grain storage practices for smallholder farmers in developing countries and highlight their most promising features and drawbacks. Smallholder farmers in developing countries use conventional grain storage structures and handling systems such as woven bags or cribs to store grain. However, they are ineffective against mold and insects already present in the grain before storage. Different chemicals are also mixed with grain to improve grain storability. Hermetic storage systems are effective alternatives for grain storage as they have minimal storage losses without using any chemicals. However, hermetic bags are prone to damage and hermetic metal silos are cost-prohibitive to most smallholder farmers in developing countries. Thus, an ideal grain storage system for smallholder farmers should be hermetically sealable, mechanically durable, and cost-effective compared to the conventional storage options. Such a storage system will help reduce grain storage losses, maintain grain quality and contribute to reducing food insecurity for smallholder farmers in developing countries.

An Overview of the Post-Harvest Grain Storage Practices of Smallholder Farmers in Developing Countries

An experiment was conducted in 2004 to assess the major pests associated with stored maize, the damage and losses they cause in Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State. Fifty farm stores were assessed. Seventeen arthropods, thirteen Coleopterans, three Lepidopterans and one Acarina were documented from the samples collected. Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) followed by grain moth (Sitotroga cereallela), rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) and flour beetle (Tribolium confusum) were the major pests of stored maize in the study area. A major finding of the experiment was that a storage pests particularly, S. zeamais is the dominant and most important pest of maize in Jimma Zone. This pest was found in abundance in all areas assessed damaging maize grain. Farmers want to store maize grain for food security, seed, and to sell when the prices are high enough. However, this pest is a major challenge. Quantitative average grain damage of 64.50% and losses of 41 to 80% are common in the store within three to six months after storage. It is recommended that an integrated weevil management method should be implemented to prevent the high quantitative and qualitative grain losses incurred so as to contribute towards family food security in Jimma Zone.

	 

	Key words: Storage pests, pest status, Sitophilus zeamais, grain damage, grain loss.

https://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1380881974_Sori and Ayana.pdf

Storage pests of maize and their status in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Seed security is key to the attainment of household food security among resource poor farmers in developing countries. In a baseline survey carried out in Siaya and Busia Districts of Western Kenya, storage was identified as a priority problem facing onfarm seed production. During the survey, it was found that about 80% of the farmers produce and store their own seeds for planting in the next cropping season. During this process of seed saving, farmers reported some decline in seed quality thus leading to poor germination and eventually poor yields. A storage experiment was, therefore, set up with the objective of improving the efficacy of traditional maize seed storage methods in maintaining seed viability and vigour as compared to some improved ones. The traditional methods included hanging cobs over the fireplace and storing in gunny bags with cow dung ash as the seed treatment. These were compared with seed treatment using Mortein Doom®, a modern seed protectant and cow dung ash; in both cases seeds were stored in airtight containers. These treatments were applied on two maize varieties: Rachar, a local variety and Maseno Double Cobber, an improved variety and the experiment was carried out in the houses of four farmers. Quality analysis of the seeds was done first before storage and then after three and six months of storage. The results indicate that the traditional methods had the poorest performance. They had significantly lower vigour after three and six months’ storage and recorded significantly higher insect damage. Seeds hung above the fireplace had the highest insect damage and this was about 99% higher than the damage recorded for seeds treated with ash and stored in airtight plastic containers. Seeds hung above the fireplace also had significantly higher moisture content increase. The best treatment was storage in airtight containers with either Mortein Doom® or cow dung ash as the seed treatment. Genetic differences in storability between the 2 varieties were not observed. This study concluded that the principle of airtight, though not new, should be used to design low cost seed storage containers for resource-poor farmers which will result in better seed quality. The study further shows that cow dung which is freely available in most homesteads is a good seed protectant and is effective in maintaining seed quality in storage. Cow dung ash should therefore be combined with air tight storage to increase the seed longevity.

/pdf/efficacy-of-traditional-maize-zea-mays-l-seed-storage-5a150elyu1.pdf

Efficacy of traditional maize (Zea mays L.) seed storage methods in western Kenya.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important food legume in Kenya. Use of poor quality common bean seed among other constraints, contributes to poor yields. The quality of farm-saved seed and seed obtained from neighbours and local markets is unknown. An experiment was conducted in Busia and Siaya districts of western Kenya during the Long rains season of 2003. Farmers’ local variety and an improved variety are stored using both farmers’ and improved storage methods for periods ranging from 3 months to 6 months to determine the effect of storage on common bean quality. Results showed that on-farm seed storage is influenced by common bean variety, seed treatment and storage container. The improved variety treated using the traditional method of cowdung ash and stored in a stoppered plastic container produced seed of higher quality. The difference in storage period had no significant effect on seed quality. Key w ords: Common bean variety, containers, on-farm, seed treatment Resume Le haricot commun (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) est un aliment important au Kenya. L’utilisation des graines de haricot commun de pauvre qualite est parmi les contraintes contribuant au maigre rendement. La qualite des graines des paysans et des graines obtenues de chez les voisins et des marches locaux est inconnue. Une experience etait conduite dans le district de Busia et Siaya a l’ouest du Kenya pendant la saison seche de 2003. Les varietes locales des paysans et une variete amelioree sont stockees en utilisant a la fois les methodes des fermiers et amelioree pour des periodes de trois a six mois pour determiner l’effet du stockage sur la qualite des haricots communs. Les resultats ont montre que le stockage sur ferme est influence par le type de variete de haricot, le traitement des graines et le type de container. Les varietes ameliorees traitees avec le cendre de la bouse et stockees dans des containers en plastique produits des graines de grande qualite. La difference dans la periode de stockage n’a pas d’effet significatif sur la qualite des graines. Mots cles: La variete de haricot commun, containers, sur ferme, graine traitee

On-farm seed storage of common bean in Western Kenya

A survey conducted in Western Kenya revealed that about 80% of farmers used farm-saved maize (Zea mays L.) seeds. During the survey, late harvesting, heavy Striga infestation, use of local varieties, and low soil fertility were identified as some of the constraints that farmers faced in on-farm maize-seed production. On-station and on-farm trials were carried out in seven divisions of western Kenya with the objective of testing an on-farm maize-seed production system and improving quality of farm-saved seeds. The trials were set up in a factorial design fitted as randomized complete-block design (RCBD). There were three factors each at two levels: time of harvest, variety choice, and fertilizer application. Results indicated that seeds harvested at harvest maturity had significantly better vigor (p = .001) and viability (p = .05) than those harvested at physiological maturity. The local landraces had significantly better vigor than Kakamega Striga-Tolerant Population '94 (KSTP), but differences in viabili...

Constraints to On-Farm Maize (Zea mays) Seed Production in Western Kenya: Seed Vigor and Viability

The inadequacy of information on rice farmers' situations, particularly their access to propagation materials and grain storage and the impact thereof on Liberia's food security scenario, curtails the development of strategies and interventions meant to optimize rice production. This study investigated the rice seed systems, storage methods of the harvested rice grains, and degree of fungal contamination of stored rice seeds in the major rice-producing counties of Liberia: Lofa, Bong, Montserrado, and Nimba. A mixed data collection method, comprising interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) was adopted. Five hundred (500) farmers were purposefully selected for one-on-one interviews, and 12 FGDs were held (three in each county). The results indicated that 94.7% of farmers source seeds through informal channels. Grain for use as seed in the subsequent farming season is mainly stored in kitchen attics, a practice reported by 83.8% of the farmers, while 7.8%, 3.8%, and 4.6% of farmers stored seeds in plastic containers, nylon sacks, and jute bags, respectively. Land size was identified as the primary factor determining rice yield across the studied counties, R2 = 0.944, p = 0.001. Farmers in high-rainfall regions had a high likelihood of experiencing fungal infections on their stored grains; however, only 19.6% of farmers were aware of the health implications of consuming affected grains. Therefore, policies and support frameworks should be directed towards actualizing modern seed channels and extension services and creating awareness of the different nodes of the rice value chain.

/pdf/rice-seed-systems-production-characteristics-and-fungal-1g6lkyff.pdf

E. O. Auma

Papers

Efficacy of traditional maize (Zea mays L.) seed storage methods in western Kenya.

On-farm seed storage of common bean in Western Kenya

Constraints to On-Farm Maize (Zea mays) Seed Production in Western Kenya: Seed Vigor and Viability

Rice: Seed Systems, Production Characteristics, and Fungal Infections of Stored Grains in Major Production Zones of Liberia