Effectiveness and economics of hermetic bags for maize storage: Results of a randomized controlled trial in Kenya

Ndegwa, Michael; Groote, Hugo De; Gitonga, Zachary M.; Bruce, Anani Y.

doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2016.08.007

Cited by 55 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This demonstrates that hermetic storage bags require careful handling and sound postharvest management to get the best results. Similar conclusions were drawn by Ndegwa et al (2015).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Field efficacy of hermetic and other maize grain storage options under smallholder farmer management

et al. 2017

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Household grain storage continues to be of paramount importance in improving food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where maize post-harvest losses of 10-20 % are reported. On-farm trials to compare alternative solutions for reducing household maize storage losses were conducted in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 storage seasons in two contrasting agro-ecological zones in the Hwedza district of Zimbabwe. A wide range of treatments including a commercial synthetic pesticide composed of fenitrothion 1 % and deltamethrin 0.13 % 1 , unregistered but commonly used botanical pesticides (Aloe ash, Colophospermum mopane leaves, Eleusine coracana (rapoko) chaff, and Ocimum gratissimum), hermetic storage facilities (metal silos, GrainPro Super Grain Bags (SGB) IVR ™ , Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags), and storage bags with deltamethrin incorporated into their fabric, were evaluated. The results demonstrated the superiority of hermetic storage facilities (PICS bags, SGBs, and metal silos) in suppressing insect pest build-up, insect grain damage and weight loss in stored maize grain. A newly introduced synthetic pesticide on the Zimbabwean market which has pirimiphos-methyl 1.6 % and thiamethoxam 0.36 % was also evaluated in the 2015/16 season and was found to be highly effective. The following grain storage technologies: hermetic metal silos, SGB bags, PICS bags, and the pesticide formulation of pirimiphosmethyl 1.6 % and thiamethoxam 0.36 % are therefore recommended for smallholder farmer use to reduce stored grain losses due to insect pests. 1 Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the University of Zimbabwe or Natural Resources Institute and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.

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“…This demonstrates that hermetic storage bags require careful handling and sound postharvest management to get the best results. Similar conclusions were drawn by Ndegwa et al (2015).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Field efficacy of hermetic and other maize grain storage options under smallholder farmer management

et al. 2017

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“…The equations from Table 4 were then utilized to conduct the cost assessments. Equation (13) was used to calculate the annual capital cost in all 240 scenarios that were studied. The annual operational cost was calculated as the sum of Equations (19) and (24), the yearly profit was calculated with Equation (25), the total annual benefit was calculated with Equation (12), and the breakeven point was calculated using Equation (27).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Grain stored in PICS could experience grain losses between 4% and 12% [3,4,13]. Commonly, the percentage of grain weight loss was between 0% and 0.31% [6,8,9,13,31]. By contrast, the percentage of grain quantity loss encountered using w. PP.…”

Section: The Annual Capital and Operational Costs And Profits At Permentioning

confidence: 99%

“…could be up to 33.8% [3], 17.95% [31], and 15% [9]. However, there could be some exceptions, such as [13] and [6], which revealed 2.4% and 0% losses, respectively. The efficacy of w. PP.…”

Section: The Annual Capital and Operational Costs And Profits At Permentioning

confidence: 99%

“…+ Phos. (or different insecticides) closely relates to PICS as between 0.03% and 12.3% losses normally occur, although 34% or greater have been reported [3,4,8,9,13]. Hermetic storage (bag or m. silo) has demonstrated superiority in preventing insect infestation and grain damage as well as losses in stored maize grain, although insecticides could be equally effective [4,8].…”

Section: The Annual Capital and Operational Costs And Profits At Permentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cost Assessment of Five Different Maize Grain Handling Techniques to Reduce Postharvest Losses from Insect Contamination

Darfour

Rosentrater

2020

Insects

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Farmers in developing nations encounter high postharvest losses mainly attributable to the lack of modern techniques for threshing, cleaning, grading, and grain storage. Mechanized handling of grain in developing countries is rare, although the technology is effective against insects and pest infestations. The objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of five grain handling techniques that have the ability to reduce postharvest losses from insect infestation. The five methods were metal silo plus all accessories (m. silo + acc.), metal silo only (m. silo), woven polypropylene plus phosphine (w. PP. + Phos.), woven polypropylene only (w. PP.), and Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags only (PICS). The functional unit used was handling 1 kg of maize grain. The cost analysis of each technique was calculated based on equations using a spreadsheet. The annual capital and operational costs of handling using m. silo + acc. or m. silo were very high, unlike the PICS, w. PP. + Phos., or w. PP. The annual capital and operational costs decreased as production scale increased. Food security (due to reduced insects and pest infestations) and financial prospects of farmers can improve when the grain is mechanically handled with m. silo + acc. or m. silo.

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Determinants of postharvest losses along smallholder producers maize and Sweetpotato value chains: an ordered Probit analysis

et al. 2019

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Postharvest loss reduction throughout commodity value chains is an important pathway to food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, lack of understanding of the location and share of the losses and associated factors along the postharvest value chains remains a major challenge to operationalizing postharvest loss mitigation strategies. This paper assesses the determinants of postharvest losses at each postharvest stage of maize and sweetpotato (white fleshed and orange fleshed) value chains for smallholder farmers using our cross-sectional field survey data from two districts in Uganda. An ordered probit model estimation reveals that self-reported perceptions of the level of quantitative postharvest losses at different stages of commodity value chains are influenced by socioeconomic factors as well as existing postharvest handling and storage practices. Increased years of education and training received on postharvest management are related to lower perceived levels of postharvest losses at key stages of value chains. Lower perceived postharvest losses are also associated with: at transport to homestead the use of sacks and bicycles as opposed to the use of baskets or transporting by trucks; at drying the use of tarpaulins as opposed to use of plastic sheets; shelling using bare-hands as opposed to beating cobs in sack with sticks; storage in a brick and mortar store as opposed to storing in living room in the house. Keywords Maize and sweetpotato value chain. Postharvest losses. Smallholder producers. Ordered probit model JEL classifications Q180. Q120

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Effectiveness and economics of hermetic bags for maize storage: Results of a randomized controlled trial in Kenya

Cited by 55 publications

References 32 publications

Field efficacy of hermetic and other maize grain storage options under smallholder farmer management

Field efficacy of hermetic and other maize grain storage options under smallholder farmer management

Cost Assessment of Five Different Maize Grain Handling Techniques to Reduce Postharvest Losses from Insect Contamination

Determinants of postharvest losses along smallholder producers maize and Sweetpotato value chains: an ordered Probit analysis

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