Effectiveness of Improved Hermetic Storage Structures Against Maize Storage Insect Pests Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus

Tadele Tefera,Charles Singano,Addis Teshome

doi:10.5539/jas.v10n8p100

Abstract

A study was conducted for 12 months to evaluate the effectiveness of two improved hermetic storage structures against two maize storage pests Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus at Liwufu Research Station, Malawi. The storages were metal silo and hermetic bag; Actellic super dust was included as a control. The treatments (storages) were replicated four times under natural and artificial infestations. Grain stored in metal silo had the lowest mean percentage weight loss, 1.04% to 1.25%, 12 months after storage followed by hermetic bag, 2.46% to 6.64%. Grain treated with Actellic super had the highest weight loss, 4.86% to 18.72%. The study showed that hermetic storage structures can be promoted as effective alternative non-chemical methods of grain storage for small holder farmers in Malawi.

Highlights

Malawi’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture which employs about 85% of the population, contributes38% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as well as 90% foreign exchange earnings (IFPRI, 2013)
Metal silos were filled with 100 Kg grain while the hermetic bag (HB) and Polypropylene bags treated with insecticide Actellic Super were filled with 40 Kg of maize
Grain kept in metal silo had the least weight loss and damage followed by grain kept in HB

Summary

Introduction

Malawi’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture which employs about 85% of the population, contributes38% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as well as 90% foreign exchange earnings (IFPRI, 2013). Maize is the dominant subsistence crop and the main staple food in Malawi and is grown by 97% of farming households (Bezu et al, 2013). Low yield, stagnating productivity growth and low input use by small holder farmers have contributed to poor performance of the agricultural sector and low productivity in maize. These factors coupled with significant post harvest losses will undoubtedly endanger household food security for majority of rural farmers (Aberman et al, 2015)

Methods

Results

Conclusion