Assessment of the role of traditional maize storage techniques on food security
| dc.contributor.author | MAPUNDA,FRATELA LIBORIUS | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-18T10:07:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-18T10:07:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2007 | |
| dc.description | Thesis | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the role of traditional maize storage techniques on food security, in Songea district. The specific objectives were (a) to identify and determine the extent of use of the main traditional maize storage techniques used in the study area (b) to determine the effectiveness of traditional maize storage techniques and (c) to determine the perception of the concept of food security by farmers in the study area. Cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and personal observation were the main instruments of data collection. The study revealed that the most common storage structures were; storage cribs (Litara) (4.3%), granaries (Chibana) (9.3%), polythene bags (viloba) (84.7%) ceiling storage, mud posts (Makarangi), tins and gourds which amounted to 1.7%. The study revealed further that about 93.3% of the farmers acknowledged that traditional storage techniques available in their area were ineffective in controlling and preventing biological agents of deterioration. Chemical pesticides were more used in preventing and controlling insect pests and rodents. Majority of farmers (80%) who used chemical pesticides either used the wrong pesticides or wrong dosage hence posing great health risk to end-users. The study also showed that despite majority of farmers (60%) having excellent knowledge on the concept of food security, there still existed pockets of hunger. About 47.5% were found to be food insecure. It was concluded that, the failure of typical traditional maize storage techniques in combating food storage problems and low level of maize production in the ward contributed to food insecurity. It was recommended that, storage techniques and farming technologies should be improved and extension officers and other stakeholders should put more emphasize on educating farmers on proper use of chemical pesticides | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6568 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Traditional maize | |
| dc.subject | Storage techniques | |
| dc.subject | Food security | |
| dc.title | Assessment of the role of traditional maize storage techniques on food security | |
| dc.type | Thesis |