Status of Postharvest Operations in Upper East Region of Ghana: The Case of Maize Producers

Abstract

A baseline survey was conducted in the Upper East Region of Ghana to assess current postharvest practices and factors influencing long and bulk storage of maize. The research tools employed were field survey, farm visits and key informant interviews. Twenty farmers were randomly selected from each community making a total of 120 farmers. Household structure on average is made up 7±5 individuals, mean age of household heads was 47 years compared to their wives age of 38 years. Maize is mostly stored in polypropylene sacs and jute sacs on raised platform in household stores. Majority of respondents indicated that post-harvest losses during storage are critical challenges to production and household food security. The main causes of loss were insect pest, rodents and grain moulds. Majority of farmers store maize for 5-8months. Though some local and synthetic grain protectants were used, post-harvest losses in 1 year of storage were still beyond acceptable limits. However, there was high willingness to adopt new efficient methods of crop protection like biological control. The idea of community storage methods was still not a technology farmers may adopt; due to a myriad of socio-cultural reasons. The results of the baseline study will guide the implementation of the project as well as serve as reference point for future impact assessment. Overall, integrated strategies involving clean farm operations, use of appropriate storage technologies and provision of improved storage structures are required to reduce current losses.