Sustainability of Indigenous Post-Harvest Technology Among Maize Crop Farming
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of study
General objective
Assessment of effectiveness of aerated bags, jute bags and hermetic bags in reduction of post-harvest losses of maize at household level.
Specific objectives
- To identify the sustainability of aerated bags, jute bags and hermetic bags for maize storage
- To examine major types and causes of maize losses occurring in aerated bags, jute bags and hermetic bags
- To evaluate the level of understanding/knowledge on post-harvest management of maize
- To evaluate the quality of maize stored in aerated bags, jute bags and hermetic bags
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Post- Harvest Handling Of Maize crop
In Agriculture post-harvest handling is a stage of crop production that immediately follows harvest. The instant a crop is removed from the ground or separated from its’ parent plant, it begins to deteriorate. Post-harvest treatment largely determines the final quality, whether a crop is sold for fresh consumption, or used as an ingredient in a processed food product. Sanitation is an important factor that reduces the possibility of pathogens that could be carried by fresh produce. Post-harvest sector includes all points in the value chain from production in the field to the food being placed on a plate for consumption. It includes harvesting, handling, storage, processing, transportation and marketing. The amount of resources used and the efficiency of production depends upon the use of appropriate technologies, infrastructure, processing, marketing and transportation (Mreme and Rolle 2002).
Factors and causes of maize crop losses
The main agents or factors responsible for the losses can be grouped as:
Physical factors
- Temperature
- Moisture
Biological factors
- Insects and mites
- Birds, rodents and wildlife
- Microorganism, fungi moulds and bacteria
Mechanical factors
- Typeand efficiency of on farm transport
- Speedand ground conditions of use
Engineering factors
- Typeand efficiency of harvesting tool
- Primaryprocessing equipment and machines
- Dryingand storing structure
Socio- economic and demographic factors
- Financial status of farm household
- Storage and marketing
Post- Harvest Maize crop management technology
Some of the post-harvest maize crop management practices discussed below are:- harvesting, shelling, drying, transportation, winnowing and processing.
Harvesting
One of the most important areas farmers tend to neglect is timing of the maize harvest. Many farmers do not know when to start making preparations for harvesting. The result of delayed harvesting is pest infestation and decaying of maize, especially during prolonged rains while the crop is still in the field. Farmers in Nigeria and most African countries lose between 15 and 40 percent of their harvest due to these factors. If a farmer plants maize in March or early April, then it should be ready for harvesting in October, especially in warmer areas where maize matures early. This means that by September, farmers should be able to cut and stake the maize in readiness for harvesting. Some maize varieties mature early. If allowed to stay too long in the field, the maize husks tend to open, exposing the maize to weevils and rain water that is responsible for the yellow discoloration and rotting. (Magazine for sustainable agriculture in Nigeria 2007).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Research design used was descriptive research. Descriptive design deals with compilation and presentation of data in various forms. Descriptive research was used because the results of the study were to be displayed and information passed from which conclusions were drawn and decisions made.
Sample Design and Sample Size
Sampling is part of statistical practice concerned with the selection of individual observations, intended to yield some knowledge about a population of concern, especially for the purpose of statistical inference (Mugenda 1999).
Sample size, the central limit theorem is a significant result which depends on a sample size. It states that as the size of a sample of independent observations, sampling frame has a property that can identify every single element and include any in the sample. The sampling frame must be a representative of the population. A sample size of 10% of the total target population is accepted (Mugenda 1999). A target population of 1200 farmers would require a sample size of 120 farmers.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Socio- economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents
The researcher’s first objective was to sought the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the farmers’ and their effects on adoption of post-harvest maize crop management technologies. She therefore asked the respondents questions that were related to their gender, age, number of years in school, land family size and the main occupation of the family head and their responses were as indicated in table 4.1 below:
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter consists of the summery of the research findings, the conclusions, recommendations, and suggestions for further research.
Summery
According to the research findings, post-harvest technologies for maize crop management in Osun state was unsustainable, causing losses in terms of quantity and quality of the maize crop.
Socio-economic and demographic characteristics (gender, age, occupation and level of education of the households head), farmers’ access to sources of information contributed , and Post-harvest maize crop management technology (harvesting, means of transportation, drying, storage, threshing and winnowing) had effects on maize crop losses.
Conclusions
The study on assessment of post-harvest maize crop management and its effects on post harvest maize crop management losses, concluded on the following:
-If losses are not managed, keeping maize for selling after some period of time is risky due to price fluctuation and storage losses.
-Repairs and monitoring of farm maize crop structure in order to reduce the losses is poor leading to losses due to rots, insects and rats
-There is significant maize crop loss, in quantity, occurring at on farm and in maize crop stores. This has caused frustration and anger to farmers because they lose considerable amount of maize crop each year.
-There is opportunity in long term maize storage, but farmers and traders will continue to face constrains including uncertain returns from storage as a result of future price unpredictability, limited working capital to construct / repair storage structures, in addition physical maize crop loses contribute to the losses too. Programs designed to eliminate these constrains can encourage farmers and traders to increase efficiency in maize storage in post harvest seasons.
Recommendations
-Seed companies in the country needs to make sure that seeds are sold on time at the beginning of the planting season to avoid post-harvest losses
-The government through the ministry of Agriculture should start programs aimed at teaching the farmers on proper maize storage and post-harvest handling of maize to reduce maize losses.
-National cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) needs to motivate farmers by paying them on time to reduce post-harvest losses of maize on the side of farmers.
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