Maize for food and feed in East Africa—The farmers’ perspective

Dema, Getachew; Sonda, George Barnabas; Gitonga, Zachary M.

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.005

Cited by 42 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…A study conducted in Kenya also indicated that six months of storage of maize in woven polypropylene sacks (in our case T7) resulted in a 23% loss of grain. 16 The importance of creating a partial modified-atmosphere hermetic environment to save more grains was also indicated in CIMMYT. 17 According to CIMMYT, after 12 months of storage, greater loss was recorded in traditional storage (33.2%) as compared to traditional storage plus use of actellic super (12%), super bags (6%) and metal silos (no loss).…”

Section: Number Of Live Weevils Insect-damaged Grains and Weight Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐cost modified‐atmosphere hermetic storage structures to reduce storage losses of maize (Zea mays L.) cobs and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) heads

2019

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BACKGROUND: Production and marketing of cereal grains are some of the main activities in developing countries to ensure food security. However, the food gap is complicated further by high postharvest loss of grains during storage. This study aimed to compare low-cost modified-atmosphere hermetic storage structures with traditional practice to minimize quantitative and qualitative losses of grains during storage. The study was conducted in two phases: in the first phase, seven hermetic storage structures with or without smoke infusion were compared, and one selected structure was further validated at scaled-up capacity in the second phase. RESULTS: Grains stored in PVC bag-supported structures (with or without smoke infusion) resulted in low live weevil population, low percentage of damaged grains and reduced weight loss with better retention of crude protein and fat contents. Results fromvalidation study also demonstrated that maize and sorghum stored in improved storage structures experienced, respectively, 9.8% and 10.4% weevil damage as compared with 47.3% and 42.3% when stored in traditional storage structures. The same was true in terms of crude protein and fat contents. CONCLUSIONS:The study demonstrated that storage structures supported with PVC bags are efficient and low-cost structures for reducing storage-related losses and supporting food security efforts as compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, the bags can be made locally and with various storage capacities to store either shelled or unshelled products. /jsfa * Means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different at P < 0.05%.

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Section: Number Of Live Weevils Insect-damaged Grains and Weight Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐cost modified‐atmosphere hermetic storage structures to reduce storage losses of maize (Zea mays L.) cobs and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) heads

2019

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“…Participatory Research has become a fast and effective method of diagnosis and sustainable dissemination of technological innovations (Groote et al, 2013;Akpo, 2012). The involvement of farmers in the development of a new technology process and the consideration of their selection criteria, have contributed to the success of this method (Raman et al, 2011;Trouche, 2001 ;Thapa et al, 2009) and used to refine the varietal development strategies to increase the chances of adoption and dissemination of varieties (Groote et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The involvement of farmers in the development of a new technology process and the consideration of their selection criteria, have contributed to the success of this method (Raman et al, 2011;Trouche, 2001 ;Thapa et al, 2009) and used to refine the varietal development strategies to increase the chances of adoption and dissemination of varieties (Groote et al, 2013). The advantages of the method in terms of rapid adoption and at less cost of new varieties, were quickly understood and widespread in Asian countries like India or Nepal (Joshi et al 1997.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participatory Assessment of Promising Rice Lines in Senegal

Gueye¹

2016

ijSciences

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:The objective of this study is to improve dissemination of improved varieties in Senegal. The involvement of small farmers from the beginning of development of a new variety of processes and taking account of their selection criteria, have contributed greatly to the success of participatory research method. It can promote greater ownership of technological innovation by targeted stakeholders and facilitates its widespread dissemination. A total of 44 promising lines and 2 controls were tested under irrigated conditions in two locations in the Senegal River Valley at Ndiaye and Fanaye, during the rainy season. Around 68 small farmers leaders from 26 villages participated in this study. Farmers were particularly interested to factors of production, and to a lesser extent, to constraints of the environment. Of the 44 lines tested, eight 8 were selected by small farmers, including 5 intraspecific hybrids and 3 interspecific hybrids. The best grain yields obtained on the two sites combined are around 6 t.ha -1 . The sociological study highlighted the typology of farms with a variety of ethnic groups. Most farmers are of advanced age, between 40 and 60 years. The distribution of the harvested products varies according to the location with a strong option for the marketing of products harvested at Ndiaye, where only 1/3 of the harvest is consumed, the vast majority of production is intended for Sale. At Fanaye by against, commercial dynamics is less pronounced with a distribution into two equitable shares of production, one of which is intended for selfconsumption and the other for sale.

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“…A large number of technology adoption studies on maize in Africa have focused on the socio-economic and agroecological factors that influence farmers' decisions to adopt improved varieties (see, e.g., Alene et al 2000;De Groote et al 2013;Feleke and Zegeye 2006;Khonje et al 2015;Langyintuo and Mungoma 2008;Lunduka et al 2012;Nkonya et al 1997). In the case of Ghana, Morris et al (1999) and Ragasa et al (2013) analysed the constraints and incentives of farmers that have contributed to the dominance of Obatanpa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do maize farmers in Ghana have a limited choice of improved seed varieties? An assessment of the governance challenges in seed supply

2018

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The liberalisation of commercial seed systems has largely been seen as an essential means of improving agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, access to improved seed varieties has remained a major constraint in many countries in spite of liberalisation and other reform efforts. This paper analyses the governance challenges involved in seed systems from a theoretical and an empirical perspective. The paper applies theoretical concepts of New Institutional Economics to identify potential governance challenges involved at the different stages of the seed supply system. The commercial maize seed sector in Ghana is used for an empirical case study. Ghana has passed a seed law that aims to increase the availability of improved seed varieties to farmers by providing more opportunities to the private sector. However, there is still a chronic lack of varietal diversity, indicating that governance challenges in the seed system remain despite the reform efforts. For data collection, a participatory mapping technique known as Process Net-Map was applied, together with expert interviews involving a diverse set of stakeholders. The empirical evidence reveals that, in line with the theoretical considerations, governance challenges indeed affect all stages of the seed supply system. These challenges include limited involvement of smallholders in setting breeding priorities, restricted private sector participation in source seed production, limited ability of an under-resourced public regulatory body to ensure high seed quality through mandatory seed certification and overdependence on a weak public extension system to promote improved varieties. The paper discusses the policy implications of the findings.

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Maize for food and feed in East Africa—The farmers’ perspective

Cited by 42 publications

References 36 publications

Low‐cost modified‐atmosphere hermetic storage structures to reduce storage losses of maize (Zea mays L.) cobs and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) heads

Low‐cost modified‐atmosphere hermetic storage structures to reduce storage losses of maize (Zea mays L.) cobs and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) heads

Participatory Assessment of Promising Rice Lines in Senegal

Why do maize farmers in Ghana have a limited choice of improved seed varieties? An assessment of the governance challenges in seed supply

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