This study investigates farmers’ perceptions, awareness, and management practices related to fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination in smallholder farming systems across six countries in East and West Africa: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Based on a survey of 531 farmers, the research examines the extent of post-harvest losses, knowledge of food safety risks, and the adoption of grain storage technologies. Nearly half of the respondents reported losses caused by mould contamination, with higher prevalence observed in East Africa than in West Africa. Although most farmers avoided consuming visibly mouldy grains, a substantial proportion continued to do so, and the majority were unaware of the health risks associated with moulds and mycotoxins. Knowledge gaps were widespread, particularly regarding mycotoxins and safe grain moisture levels for storage. While storage technologies such as hermetic bags, hessian bags, and polypropylene sacks were commonly used, many farmers perceived them as only moderately effective. Statistical analyses revealed significant regional differences, with East African farmers generally demonstrating greater awareness of mycotoxin risks and safer storage practices. Gender, age, and access to technical information were important determinants of awareness, with women, older farmers, and those receiving technical support exhibiting higher knowledge levels. The findings highlight the need for targeted training, improved extension services, and wider dissemination of effective post-harvest technologies to reduce food losses, protect health, and strengthen food security across African smallholder farming systems.
Tag: cereals
Site selection for Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn in Indonesia: report on a site-selection exercise in Kalimantan and Sumatra. 18-17 August 1992
A global research effort is underway to develop sustainable alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture.it is a collaborative effort among eight tropical countries and six international research centers. The program which is founded by the consortium of donors is divided in to four parts; a global project and three regional projects in humid tropics of Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.The Southeast Asia component is being connected in Indonesia the Philippines and Thailand.Indonesia, which has the largest forest area in Asia, represents the equItorial tropics. The Philippines represents the mid-latitude, wet-dry tropics, while Thailand represents the hilly region of mainland Southeast Asia.
Studies on the potential for improved fallow using trees and shrubs to reduce striga infestations in Kenya
Sampling schemes for estimating root density distribution in cropped fields
In discussions on root research methods, so far the choice of sampling schemes seem to have been neglected topics. I this paper sampling schemes are discussed for various situations. it is shown that the schemes used traditionally for raw crops such as serials may give a bias of upto 30% on total root dry weight. More reliable sampling schemes are presented, as well as possibilities for correction of data from traditional sampling.available data of variation is root mass per auger sample are summerised to calculate the number of replicate samples required to detect differences (of given magnitude) between two means. The coefficient of variation of root weight per auger sample seem to be fairly constant at around 40% in grassland, with slightly higher value to deeper layer of soil.
A review of organic inputs to inform soil health advice for African smallholder farmers: localization matters
African smallholder farming systems are complex, diverse and locally adapted, but guidance is lacking on how farmers can make informed choices of the type of organic inputs to suit their farm conditions. In this review we aimed to provide a synthesis of actionable information on ex situ and in situ organic resources and decision support tools to facilitate evidence-based choices by smallholders in cereal production systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Influence of altitude on crop growing and yield
Agroforestry solutions to rehabilitate Imperata grasslands: a system approach
The imparata grassland of Southeast Asia represent a vast underutilized natural resource.They cover an aerial extent exceeding 50 million hectares.Fifteen to twenty million hectares are estimated to have terrain characteristics that do not inhibit agriculture and are free from forest concessions, yet ar unmanaged condition (World Bank, 1974).Much of the rest is on steeper, more marginal soils classified as forest land but without tree cover.Most Imperata cylindrica grasslands (known as alang-alang,cogon,lalang in local language) in the region were derived through slash and burn cultivation ,linked with logging activities , and maintained through the frequent occurrence of fire .As long as there is forest land available, most small-scale cultivators find higher returns to labor by abandoning depleted lands as imperata invades, and opening more forest through slash-and- burn.
Will cotton make a comeback in Mali?
With the decline of cotton especially in the marginal cotton areas, farmers have been using more of the cotton-financed inputs on the cereals. The cotton para-statal company (CMDT) has made a virtue out of this recommending diversification for these regions. Following the world price spike in 2010, the Malian government responded with a substantial price increase for cotton in 2011 of 38% to rejuvenate the Malian sector. This article looks at the impact of this price policy in the cotton economy and the potential of new cereal technology and marketing strategy to raise incomes and facilitate the diversification. Given the importance of the marketing decision of selling later after the recovery of cereal prices from the harvest collapse, a discrete stochastic programming model was developed for three-stage decision making. Then, the recent changes in the cotton economy and government fertilizer subsidies were analyzed along with the introduction of the new technology marketing of sorghum. Cotton and maize continue to dominate the economy but the combined sorghum technology marketing increases farmers’ incomes by 16% to 21% and eases the return to normal cotton prices, after the 2011 price spike, as well as the removal of the fertilizer subsidies.