Assessment of rodent damage to stored maize (Zea mays L.) on smallholder farms in Tanzania

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.

Keywords:

• contamination
• post-harvest
• rodent damage
• storage structures
• weight loss

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the ECORAT Project, financed by the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat through the Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training (ICART) programme. The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the SADC Secretariat or the European Union. We appreciate the excellent field assistance from Mr Khalid S. Kibwana of the Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.