This leaflet is designed for agricultural extension workers who support farmers in problems relating to the storage of their produce. It presents measures to maintain the quality of maize cobs. The recommended measures are appropriate for storage without using any synthetic insecticides whatsoever, and without significant losses being caused by pests. This is especially attractive to small farmers with low financial resources, and to farmers in remote regions where synthetic insecticides are not available.
The particular advantages of this integrated package are:
The environmental compatibility of stored-food protection measures has been continuously improved in recent years, not least due to the fact that in many African countries programmes of biological control of the Larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncates) have been launched, in which the predatory beetle Teretriosoma nigrescens (T.n ) is used to keep populations of the Larger grain borer under control The beneficial species pursues its prey into its habitats both in the field, and into maize stores. The integrated stored-food protection package described in this leaflet is conducive to maximising the impact of the beneficial species, whilst providing adequate protection against the major stored-food pests such as species of Sitophilus, the Larger grain borer or the Angumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella).
For farmers producing large quantities of maize for cash or merchants storing maize on an intermediate basis over long periods, the protective measures described below will be of only minor relevance. For these target groups, storage and stored-food protection measures would be recommended which include shelling, treatment with synthetic insecticides and storage in sacks. Nevertheless, farmers producing for sale can also improve their maize storage, especially the storage of maize for their own use by studying and applying individual elements of the described strategy.