Insect pests and postharvest problems in the tropics

Abstract

Tropical environments provide optimum conditions for insect growth and multiplication in the ideal medium of food stored by humans. Some insects begin infestation in the field and continue attack in storage. Other species diapause and remain in cracks and crevices in granaries or feed on grain residues while awaiting the new harvest. Since most of the tropical produce is for subsistence, the losses resulting from severe insect attack contribute to malnutrition and famine. In central stores and warehouses commodity management is poor and large amounts are lost to insects. In countries where heavy insecticide and fumigant pressure is maintained to preserve food stocks, insects rapidly build up resistance. The solutions for the future are to reduce dependence on pesticides and utilize in an integrated way the cultural, biological and physical techniques developed in recent years for safer storage and the successful preservation of strategic reserves for food security.