| dc.contributor.author | Abass, A.B. |
| dc.contributor.author | Ndunguru, G. |
| dc.contributor.author | Mamiro, P. |
| dc.contributor.author | Alenkhe, B. |
| dc.contributor.author | Mlingi, N. |
| dc.contributor.author | Bekunda, Mateete A. |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-12-04T10:57:04Z |
| dc.date.available | 2019-12-04T10:57:04Z |
| dc.date.issued | 2014-04-30 |
| dc.identifier.citation | Abass, A.B., Ndunguru, G., Mamiro, P., Alenkhe, B., Mlingi, N. and Bekunda, M. 2014. Post-harvest food losses in a maize-based farming system of semi-arid savannah area of Tanzania. Journal of Stored Products Research 57:49–57. |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/574 |
| dc.description.abstract | An assessment of post-harvest handling practices and food losses in a maize-based farming system in
semi-arid areas of Central and Northern Tanzania was carried out in 2012. Seventeen crops were mostly
cultivated by the farmers in the surveyed areas; maize (32%), sunflower (16%) and pigeon peas (12%)
were the most cultivated while maize was the most stored. There are at least 7 months between two
harvest seasons of each crop; while farmers sold the crops soon after harvest to cater for household
expenditure (54%) and school fees (38%), the market prices increased significantly (P 0.05) within six
months of storage. Most processing activities (winnowing, dehulling, drying, sorting and shelling) were
carried out manually, almost entirely by women, but mechanized processing for maize, sunflower, millet,
and sorghum were commonly practiced. Quantitative post-harvest losses of economic importance occur
in the field (15%); during processing (13e20%), and during storage (15e25%). The main storage pests
responsible for the losses are larger grain borers (Prostephanus truncatus), grain weevils (Sitophilus
granarius) and, the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica). Most of the farmers considered changes in
weather (40%), field damage (33%), and storage pests (16%) as the three most important factors causing
poor crop yields and aggravating food losses. However, survey results suggest that the farmers’ poor
knowledge and skills on post-harvest management are largely responsible for the food losses. 77% of the
surveyed farmers reported inadequate household foods and 41% received food aid during the previous
year. Increasing farmers’ technical know-how on adaptation of the farming systems to climate variability,
and training on post-harvest management could reduce food losses, and improve poverty and household
food security. |
| dc.description.sponsorship | United States Agency for International Development |
| dc.language.iso | en |
| dc.subject | Food Security |
| dc.subject | Farming Systems |
| dc.title | Post-harvest food losses in a maize-based farming system of semi-arid savannah area of Tanzania |
| dc.type | Journal Article |
| dc.description.version | Peer Review |
| cg.contributor.crp | Integrated Systems for the Humid Tropics |
| cg.contributor.affiliation | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture |
| cg.coverage.region | Africa |
| cg.coverage.region | East Africa |
| cg.coverage.country | Tanzania |
| cg.isijournal | ISI Journal |
| cg.journal | Journal of Stored Products Research |
| cg.howpublished | Formally Published |
| cg.accessibilitystatus | Open Access |
| local.dspaceid | 35709 |
| cg.targetaudience | Scientists |
| cg.identifier.doi | https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2013.12.004 |
