Session 11 - Control of the spread of the GGB through construction of improved storage of Shelled Maize

Topic: Control of the Spread of the GGB Through Construction of Improved Storage of shelled maize
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Objectives:

By the end of this session, the participants should:

i) know the elements of a good maize storage structure and system

ii) recognize the weaknesses of the structures and systems that they currently use to store maize

iii) know the storage structures or improvements to storage structures that are appropriate to their levels of production and needs

iv) be able and motivated either to construct new storage structures or to improve on existing ones.

Target Group:

- Subject Matter Specialists (SMS's)
- Technical Assistants (TA's)
- Farmers
- Individual traders and employees of trading organizations
- Local leaders

Training Materials:

- models of maize storage structures used in the area (both the appropriate and inappropriate ones)

- BB with chalk and eraser or FC with felt pen and paper

Process:

10 minutes

a) The trainer should, first of all, assist the participants to recapitulate the possible post-harvest losses in maize and how they are brought about. The discussions should be written on the BB or the FC as follows:

TYPE OF LOSS	CAUSED BY
Qualitative	Insect pests, mould, rodents
Quantitative	Insect pests, rodents, thieves, etc.
Nutritional	Insect pests, etc.
Monetary	All of the above causes

10 minutes

b) The trainer should remind the participants once again of the possible quantitative monetary value of the losses which were discussed in an earlier session. Attempts should be made to relate the losses to man-months of lost labour. Thus, the need for proper management of harvested produce should be underscored.

5 minutes

c) The ecology of the GGB should be reviewed briefly and the need to properly dry and to treat (dust) all maize in shelled form with Actellic Super should be revisited.

30 minutes

d) The trainer should then lead a discussion entitled THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MAIZE STORAGE SYSTEM. The outcome of the discussion should be written on the BB or the FC as follows:

PURPOSE	CHARACTERISTIC/FEATURE
1) Reduction of insect pests, e.g. the GBB	i) Closed rather than open storage system, e.g. drums -> expensive but effective; baskets -> cheap and effective.
	ii) Store maize already shelled and treated with A.S., i.e. store in gunny bags, etc.
	iii) Do not store maize in places where the temperature and other conditions favour the breeding of insects, especially the GGB, e.g. the loft (dari).
	iv) Do not store broken up maize kernels which can easily be attacked by insects.
	v) Construct storage structures which are easy to:
		- dust/treat with A.S., i.e. smooth surfaces (walls and floors)
		- inspect routinely
2) Elimination of water (necessary for seed germination, moulds etc.)	i) Construct structures which are leak proof, i.e.
		- steep roof slope - 45°
		- good thatch or iron sheets
	ii) Construct structures which keep out water from the sides, e.g.
		- closed systems (basket, etc.)
		- adequate eaves to keep off rain water.
	iii) Construct structures which do not let in water or moisture from below, e.g.
		- store on pallets if storing in a house in bags
		- raise the crib/basket about 1 meter from the ground
3) Reduction of attacks by rodents	i) Keep storage structures away from roofs trees, etc. from which rodents may jump or attack.
	ii) Construct structures approximately 1 meter above ground and install rat guards.
	iii) Store on pallet in the bedroom.
	iv) Use traps and recommended rodenticides (poisons).
	v) Construct structures which are easy to inspect routinely.
4) Elimination of thieves and wildlife menace	i) Store inside the house on pallets.
	ii) Construct store near the dwelling house.
	iii) Construct closed and strong stores.

10 minutes

e) The trainer should, at this stage, ask the participants to indicate how they currently store their maize. The structures/systems named should be classified by the trainer under headings such as:

A) OPEN CRIB

1......................
2......................
3......................

B) ON THE LOFT

1......................
2......................
3......................

C) IN THE BEDROOM

1......................
2......................
3......................

D) IN CLOSED GRANARY

1......................
2......................
3......................

E) IN BAGS IN SHOP

1......................
2......................
3......................

etc.

30 minutes

f) For each class, the trainer should show the model of the structure and system, discuss its features and how in can possibly be improved upon. The participants currently using that system should be assisted by the trainer and other participants to see the strengths and weaknesses existing in their respective maize storage systems/structures and how the weaknesses may be improved upon. The trainer should demonstrate the proposed improvements.

45 minutes

g) The trainer should note down the weaknesses of each participant's storage system/structure, the proposed improvements and proposed dates for improvement works so that he/she may monitor and assist the storage structure/system improvement schedule. Following is the proposed format of recording:

CLASS OF STORAGE/PARTICIPANT'S NAME	CURRENT WEAKNESSES	PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME	DlFFICULTIES TO IMPROVEMENTS
LOFT
Mrs. Kituri	- GGB-infestation high	- to construct pallet
	- inspection difficult	- to start bedroom storage by 01.02.93
	- maize not shelled/dehusked/treated	- to purchase ten gunny bags immediately
		- to purchase maize sheller by 01.01.93
		- to purchase AS. Immediately
CLOSED GRANARY
Mrs. Mwasi	- granary leaking	- to repair roof by 01.01.93
	- granary not raised	- to be raised by 15.01.93
	- no rat guards	- to instal rat guards by 30.01.93
SHOP
Mr. Ramadhan	- no platform	- to construct platform by 08.01.93
	- no rat traps	- to buy rat traps immediately

15 minutes

h) The trainer should allow the participants to ask questions about the contents of the session and to discuss the bottlenecks to the improvements.

10 minutes

i) The contents of the session should then be summarized by the trainer as follows:

i) The main agents which cause post-harvest losses are: insects such as the weevil and the GGB

- moulds
- rodents
- birds
- thieves
- wildlife

ii) The above agents are responsible for:

- degradation of the quality of the produce
- reduction in the quantity of the produce
- reduction in the nutritional value of the produce
- colossal financial/economic losses to the farmers, traders and the country.

iii) Storage systems and structures for produce, especially maize, should be constructed so as to eliminate entry, survival and multiplication of the post-harvest pests.

iv) Thus, the characteristics of a good storage system are:

1) The roof should not be leaking, i.e. and angle of 45° and thick thatch are necessary, with sufficient eaves.

2) The structure should be raised from the ground, approximately 1 m for granaries and 15 cm (6 inches) for platforms.

3) The structure should be ventilated but should be solid enough to contain either shelled maize kernels or shelled maize in bags.

4) The structure should be cool but dry.

5) The structure should be easy to treat with insecticides and to inspect routinely.

6) The structure should be protected from access by rodents, e.g. rats.

7) The structure should be strong and near or in the dwelling house.