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Without appropriate stored-food protection measures, farmers are often left with no alternative but to sell their produce soon after harvest, even though it may not be possible to secure attractive prices on the market. Integrated stored-food protection enables farmers to extend the storage period without having to take the risk of increased losses. As a result, farmers with surpluses have greater choice in selecting the appropriate date of sale, which means they can wait for periods where maize prices have reached a high level. Conversely, for farmers with a small crop, there is a reduced risk of having to purchase expensive additional food at the end of the storage season. The presented package thus helps secure income in rural areas. This is most effective where there is a lack of capital for investment
The integrated stored-food protection package described here has the particular advantage of using materials which are available everywhere, and of being based essentially on traditional practices. As a result, the costs are unusually low, and a high level of acceptance among farmers can be anticipated.
Drying
Maize can only be stored well if it has been properly dried. When drying maize in the sun or over a fire turn it to ensure even drying end to prevent overheating. Dry it until a moisture content of below 13% is achieved, which is suitable for long-term storage. If the maize is not dried sufficiently, it can easily become mouldy. Drying at temperatures above 60°C causes the kernels to crack, and leads to an increased risk of infestation by secondary pests. Seed can already lose its viability at a temperature of 43°C.
Sorting
The next step is careful selection of intact maize cobs for long-term storage. All cobs displaying insect infestation, mould, mechanical damage or any other inferior qualities, must be removed and processed as soon as possible. This will prevent contamination of the healthy cobs, and maintain overall quality of the produce
Dividing the harvest
The harvest is now divided into two parts. The first is for short-term daily requirements, whilst the other is for long-term storage.
Studies have shown that, during the first three to four months after storage, as a rule no high losses are caused by insects, and hence no special protective measures are necessary during this period. Maize intended for consumption during this period therefore need not be treated. The farmer should store this maize separately.
Only those cobs intended for longer-term storage need to be treated. This should be performed in a separate store or in a suitable storage area. In this way the farmer can save working time and money. This aspect is also of significance to market-oriented farmers
Storage hygiene measures and rat control
The most important point in both short-term and long-term storage is the application of proven hygiene measures, which include thorough cleaning of the store and its surroundings. Remove all material remaining from the last harvest. If possible, treat the empty store with an insecticide to expel or destroy any concealed pests. Repair any damage to the roof before further storage. With clay stores, seal any cracks.
Stores standing on posts can be protected against intrusion by rodents with simple barriers,
Treatment With lime dust
A proven and inexpensive dusting preparation for maize cobs stored in their husks is quicklime which is distributed evenly in a fine coat over the stored products. This lime dust has a dehydrating effect on insects, blocks their respiratory orifices and renders
If the store is inadequately protected, problems with rodents (rats and mice) are also to be anticipated, these can be easily be prevented (see section on storage hygiene measures and rat control).
Prostephanus truncatus (Larger grain borer)
Teretriosoma nigrescens (beneficial species)
Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil)
Sitotroga cerealella (Angumois grain moth)
The integrated stored-food protection package
It has proved to be the case that individual measures of stored-food protection often do not lead to the desired result, as storage constitutes merely one element of the complex post-harvest system Each stage of this system influences the subsequent stages in the simplest case (subsistence farming), the post-harvest system "maize" is characterised by the following stages:
sowing - harvest - transport - drying - sorting - measures of traditional stored-food protection - storage - shelling - processing or consumption
The package of integrated measures to protect maize cobs against stored-food pests presented in this leaflet, sets in at several of the above-mentioned stages of the system, and comprises the following components:
Selection of varieties
The storage properties of different varieties should already be taken into account when panning cultivation. Local varieties with long husks tightly enclosing the cob are more suitable for traditional storage than high-yielding varieties with short husks Stored product pests infesting maize m the store have very great difficulty penetrating the protecting enclosing leaves. The only exception to this is the Larger grain borer, which finds them no obstacle.
Harvest date
It is important to harmonise the framing calendar such that the required labour is available on the best date for harvest. If the harvest is brought forward, there is a risk that the maize will be too moist, and later mm mouldy in the store. On the other hand, the longer "he maize remains on the stem, the greater the risk that stored-food pests might already infest the crop in the field, and continue to feed on the maize in the store
