Post-harvest food losses in a maize-based farming system of semi-arid savannah areas of Tanzania
Results of a 2012 survey show that quantitative post-harvest losses of economic importance occur in the field (15%); during processing (13-20%), and during storage (15-25%) in semi-arid savannah areas of Tanzania. Farmers’ poor knowledge and skills on post-harvest management are considered to be largely responsible. According to the farmers, changes in weather (40%), field damage (33%), and storage pests, grain borers and grain weevils (16%) were identified as the three most important factors causing poor crop yields and aggravating food losses. Increasing farmers’ technical know-how on adaptation of the farming systems to climate variability, and training on post-harvest management could reduce food losses, and poverty and improve household food security. Africa RISING scientists in Tanzania published the results of their survey in the Journal of Stored Products Research.
(Africa RISING, 10/10/2014)
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