Performance of hermetic bag technology in reducing maize storage losses and factors affecting low adoption among small-holder farmers.
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Date
2023
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Post-harvest storage losses of maize grain have a negative impact on the livelihood of smallholder farmers and the national economy at large. The majority of rural communities’maize farmers in developing countries rely on indigenous maize storage methods. These methods are ineffective in minimizing grain losses caused by insect infestation. Maize storage damaging insects such as larger grain borers and maize weevils are linked to these huge losses. Additionally, the use of synthetic insecticides and botanicals to control these insects has not benefited farmers but has instead adversely affected human health and the environment. Hermetic storage technology such as hermetic bags is a modern maize grain storage technique that effectively and efficiently reduces insect infestation and other grain storage deterioration factors. This technology is a non-chemical grain storage approach that works on the hermeticity principle. Several research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this technology globally. However, in Tanzania the studies regarding the investigation of the effectiveness of hermetic bags are limited. Most and recent studies concentrated on comparing the effectiveness of PICS bags with conventional maize storage methods. The current study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of AgroZ and PICS brands of hermetic bags in suppressing maize weevils in stored maize grain. The experiment was set out at the Entomology Laboratory storeroom, Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Sokoine University of Agriculture for a period of 180 days. The experiment comprised of three treatments; such as AgroZ, PICS, and Polypropylene bags. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design each replicated three times. Prior to commencement of the experiment, each bag was filled with 20kg of maize grain and artificially infested with maize weevils at a rate of 1 insect per kg. After every 30 days of storage, samples were taken from each treatment and sieved to separate insects from grains. Live and dead insects for each sample were counted and recorded; damaged and sound grains also were manually counted, weighed, and recorded. Using the sub-sample moisture content of each sample was obtained by using the oven drying method. Additionally, randomly selected 100 grains from each sample were planted in trays for determination of seed germination potential. Boxall equations were employed for the quantification of grain damage and weight loss percentages. Statistical analysis was performed by using Genstat 15.1, and Tukey’s HSD to test the means at the significance level of 5%. Mean grain damage and weight loss were significantly different (p<0.05) among hermetic and polypropylene treatments. The AgroZ hermetic bags recorded the lowest weight loss and grain damage mean values of 0.6 and 1.35% respectively. While the PICS bags recorded weight loss and grain damage mean values of 0.8 and 0.93% respectively. After 180 days no live insects were observed in the maize grain stored in hermetic bags. No significant difference in maize grain damage or weight loss was observed among the hermetic bags. Despite the effectiveness of hermetic bags in reducing maize storage losses, still, the rate of uptake of the technology is seemingly low among maize producers. On these grounds, a survey study was conducted to evaluate the reasons for the low adoption of hermetic bags among maize farmers. A total of 180 respondents were face-to-face interviewed using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model through SPSS software. The logistic regression model revealed that price, access, training, farmers’ experience, and awareness variables positively and significantly (p<0.05) influenced the farmers’ decision to use or to use hermetic bags. The revealed explanatory variables testify the need for the government and non-governmental organizations to intervene.
The findings from this research will benefit maize producers by providing information on the effectiveness of tested hermetic bags, thereby promoting and increasing the utilization of the technology. Additionally, in light of the current study, further research is recommended to be extended into an exploration of the re-usability of these hermetic bags as well as the engineering characterization of their inner liners.
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Keywords
Maize storage, Small', Small-holder, Farmers, Storage methods, Grain losses