Journal of
Stored Products and Postharvest Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Stored Prod. Postharvest Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-6567
  • DOI: 10.5897/JSPPR
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 166

Review

Post-harvest losses in maize store-time and marketing model perspectives in Sub-Saharan Africa

Jennifer Swai
  • Jennifer Swai
  • Department of Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Science and Bio-engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
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Ernest R. Mbega
  • Ernest R. Mbega
  • Department of Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Science and Bio-engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Google Scholar
Arnold Mushongi
  • Arnold Mushongi
  • Department of Crop Science, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute Ilonga, Private Bag, Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Patrick A. Ndakidemi
  • Patrick A. Ndakidemi
  • Department of Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Science and Bio-engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 07 September 2018
  •  Accepted: 23 October 2018
  •  Published: 31 January 2019

Abstract

Post‒harvest losses of maize are almost half of the produced grains in Sub‒Saharan Africa. Efforts to reverse this trend are recommended. Thus, there is a prerequisite to create a post‒harvest loss resilient strategy to guide small scale maize growing farmers in Africa. In this review, critical elements underlying post‒harvest losses in Africa such as infestation by insect‒pests, microbes, rodents, poor transportation infrastructure, poor storage facilities, injudicious store‒time and unjustified marketing models have been discussed. Furthermore, we have proposed options for mitigating the post‒harvest damage by highlighting possible pathways for farmers’ friendly resilient strategies and areas needing research to eventually minimize post‒harvest losses of maize in Sub Saharan Africa

Key words: Storage techniques, marketing prices, trade ban, spatial market, food security.