Assessment of rodent damage to stored maize (Zea mays L.) on smallholder farms in Tanzania
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
This study examined rodent damage, loss and contamination in stored maize on smallholder farms in East Africa.
Different, novel techniques for assessing rodent damage, namely open and closed storage structures (cribs and sacks),
were employed in a treatment-control trial design replicated across different households and hamlets within the Berega
community of Central Tanzania. Significant correlations were observed between the monthly rates of rodent-damaged
maize seeds, maize weight loss and the number of rodent droppings. Significant differences in damage, loss and
contamination occurred between different storage structures (open and closed cribs and sacks). The mean monthly rate
of damage was 40.4%, 7.9%, 17.7% and 0% percent in open cribs, closed cribs, open sacks and closed sacks,
respectively. Our results suggest that reducing rodent infestation through the use of improved storage structures could
lead to major savings in the amount and quality of stored food available to households, thus increasing food security.
Description
International Journal of Pest Management, 2013
Vol. 59, No. 1, 55–62,
Keywords
Contamination, Post-harvest, Rodent damage, Storage structures, Weight loss