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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
Rural Outreach Program
ISSN: 1684-5358 EISSN: 1684-5358
Vol. 20, No. 5, 2020, pp. 16522-16539
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Bioline Code: nd20087
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Vol. 20, No. 5, 2020, pp. 16522-16539
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ON-FARM EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF IMPROVED POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF MAIZE IN REDUCING GRAIN LOSSES, MOLD INFECTION AND AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN RURAL UGANDA
Akumu, G; Atukwase, A; Tibagonzeka, JE; Apil, J; Wambete, JM; Atekyereza, PR; Kiyimba, FL & Muyonga, JH
Abstract
Postharvest losses remain a challenge among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
The uses of hermetic storage containers (hermetic bags and metallic silos), tarpaulin
sheet (plastic sheet) and raised racks reduce postharvest deterioration of grain. This study
evaluated the effectiveness of selected improved drying and storage postharvest
technologies and practices in reducing maize grain postharvest losses among smallholder
farmers in Kamuli and Apac districts, Uganda. The assessed improved storage
technologies were hermetic bags and metallic silos against woven polypropylene bags
(common farmer practice). For drying, use of tarpaulins and raised racks were assessed
against drying on bare ground (common farmer practice). Grain quality and quantity
were determined at harvest as well as during drying and six months of storage using
Longe 10H variety. Mean quantitative losses, mold infection and aflatoxin level of maize
at harvest were 13.72 ± 5.44%, 59.01 ± 17.97% and 1.21 ± 0.7 ppb, respectively for
traditional practice. Improved drying and storage technologies resulted in significantly
lower (p≤0.05) losses, mold infection and aflatoxin level than the common farmer
practices. Drying on bare ground (3.04 ± 1.50%) resulted in 1.94 times and 7.07 times
higher quantitative losses than drying on tarpaulins (1.56 ± 1.09%) and raised racks (0.43
± 0.58%). By the sixth month of storage, polypropylene bag storage resulted in 3.7 times
and 84 times higher quantitative losses (23.7 ± 5.11%) than hermetic bags (6.33 ± 5.41%)
and metallic silos (0.28 ± 0.22%), respectively. Polypropylene bag storage also resulted
in 4.4 times and 6 times higher aflatoxin levels (45.82 ± 20.88 ppb) than hermetic bags
and metallic silos, respectively. The interaction effects of type of drying technology and
storage technology used on aflatoxin levels at the end of the storage period was
significant. The highest mold infection and aflatoxin levels were observed when drying
was done on bare ground and storage was in polypropylene bags and by the sixth month
of storage, mold infection was 90.54 ± 5.48% and average aflatoxin content was 53.47 ±
22.79 ppb. Storage in metallic silos was the most effective in controlling mold infection
and aflatoxin contamination, regardless of drying practice, while storage in
polypropylene bags was the least effective. From the results, improved drying and
storage technologies and practices were found to reduce postharvest maize losses, mold
infection and aflatoxin level by over 50%. Use of raised drying racks and storage in
metallic silos was found to be the most effective combination in maintaining maize
quality and reducing postharvest losses.
Keywords
Aflatoxins; maize quality; mold infection; grain storage; postharvest losses
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