Post-Harvest Insect Pests and Their Management Practices for Major Food and Export Crops in East Africa: An Ethiopian Case Study

Abstract

Ethiopian subsistence farmers traditionally store their grain harvests, leaving them open to storage pests and fungi that can cause contamination of major staple crops. Applying the most effective strategy requires a precise understanding of the insect species, infestation rates, storage losses, and storage conditions in the various types of farmers’ grain stores. This study did a complete literature analysis on post-harvest pest and management measures with a focus on Ethiopia. The most frequent insect pests of stored cereals in this study were weevils (Sitophilus spp.), the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica), rust-red flour beetle (Tribolium sp.), sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus sp.), grain beetle (Cryptolestes spp.), Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), and Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella). Flour beetles (Tribolium spp.), sawtoothed beetles (Oryzaephilus sp.), flat grain beetles (Cryptolestes pusillus), and some moths have been identified as common stored product pests of stored oil seed, while bruchid beetles (Callosobruchus chinensis) and the moths were reported for pulses. Additionally, the storage pests in Ethiopia under varied conditions caused storage losses of 9–64.5%, 13–95%, 36.9–51.9%, and 2–94.7% in maize, sorghum, chickpeas, and sesame, respectively. To reduce the losses incurred, preventative measures can be taken before infestations or as soon as infestations are discovered. A variety of pest population monitoring systems for harvested products and retailers have been developed and recommended. In this context, reducing post-harvest grain losses is an urgent concern for improving food accessibility and availability for many smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and ensuring the nation’s long-term food security.

Post-harvest pest population based on observation method at bulog warehouse

“…The order Coleoptera is the most frequent post-harvest pest injurious to seeds [17]. Common species of pest beetles in rice are Cryptolestes (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) (rusty grain beetle), Tribolium (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Rhyzopertha (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (red flour beetle) [18].…”

Effectiveness of bagasse and rice straw ashes against postharvest pest, Sitophilus zeamais on maize seed

“…Maize is generally stored in the form of pipeline in storage warehouses where the stored maize aims to provide seed, feed, and food. One of the obstacles in storage is the attack of postharvest pests that cause damage and reduce the weight of stored commodities [1,2].…”

Insect species dynamics and associated losses in on-farm stored sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds in major sesame growing areas in Ethiopia

“…Millions of farmers around the world are supported by the enormous sesame business (Berhe et al 2022). It is estimated that 2,211,339 tons of sesame grains were traded globally in 2019 for a sum of 3.4 trillion USD, and the production is continuously rising (FAOSTAT 2020).…”

“…In general, lack of high-yielding and well-adapted varieties, vulnerability to capsule shattering, the frequency of biotic and abiotic challenges, and lack of contemporary production technology, such as storage facilities, are the important factors contributing to sesame's low yield. (Berhe et al 2022;Teklu et al 2021;Usman et al 2022).…”