Maize in Ghana: An Overview of Cultivation to Processing

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation in Ghana has been ongoing for centuries. Maize production in Ghana, is predominantly done under rain-fed conditions by poorly resourced smallholder farmers. The agro-ecological zones for maize cultivation in Ghana can be mainly grouped into four; Coastal savannah zone, forest zone, transition zone and Guinea savannah zone. Maize accounts for 50% of the total cereal production in Ghana, with reported postharvest losses between 5% and 70%. Improving food security through a reduction of postharvest losses is imperative for meeting current development objectives. Stored maize is attacked by 20 different species of insect pests including the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Mots.). There are traditional techniques still in use for maize storage (drying in field, on platform, on ground, and use of mud silos) and modern techniques (using metal silos, solar dryers, chemical, hermetic technique and Purdue Improved Drying Stove). There are various methods used in the maize shelling and storage. Purchasing of modern equipment for shelling and conditioning is highly unaffordable by these subsistence farmers. The lack of commercial or industrial processing of maize, and improper storage facilities is causing immense food losses and insecurity in Ghana. Due to this farmers are compelled to sell their bumper harvest at low prices, and those in barns and warehouses get rotten. The purpose of this paper was to review literature on the cultivation, post-harvest handling, and processing of maize grains in Ghana. Abstract. Maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation in Ghana has been ongoing for centuries. Maize production in Ghana

Fertilizer use efficiency and economic viability in maize production in the Savannah and transitional zones of Ghana

“…It is cultivated in every region and serves as a staple food crop for almost every household and as animal feed in Ghana. The crop is primarily cultivated on small farms of less than 5 ha, mostly using traditional farming methods (Darfour and Rosentrater, 2016;MoFA, 2021). Despite the potential for higher maize yields in Ghana, several limiting factors exist, including soil degradation, pests and diseases, and limited access to input and output markets (Martey et al, 2020;Koffi et al, 2021).…”

Thin-layer mathematical modelling of maize in a biomass-powered inclined bed dryer

“…Maize is Ghana's most important cereal grain, accounting for approximately half of the total cereal production (Darfour and Rosentrater, 2016). In 2019, Ghana recorded a production output of 3.06 million metric tonnes of maize (MoFA, 2020).…”

Techno-economic analysis of a biomass-powered inclined bed dryer for maize drying

“…Maize is a staple food crop in Ghana, constituting about 50% and 60% of annual cereal production (Darfour and Rosentrater, 2016). Maize is produced mainly by farmers at the small-scale level mostly in the agro-ecological zones using rudimentary hand tools such as a hoe and cutlass under traditional tillage, rainfed conditions, and sunlight-dependent drying methods (Amanor-Boadu, 2012; Darfour and Rosentrater, 2016).…”