Farmers’ and Traders’ Perceptions on The Incidence and Management of Weevils in Maize (Zea Mays) Storage in The Tano South Municipality of the Ahafo Region of Ghana
- January 24, 2022
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: Agriculture, IJRSI
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705
Bismark Osei and Peter Haruna
Science Department, St. Joseph’s College of Education, Bechem
ABSTRACT
This paper assessed farmers’ and traders’ perception in the incidence and management of pests in maize (Zea mays) in in the Tano South municipality of the Ahafo region of Ghana. A sample size of 200 respondents consisting of 150 maize farmers and 50 maize traders, from six communities were used for the study. Semi-structured questionnaires and personal interviews were used in collecting information from the respondents. Data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS version 19). Insects were the number one cause of maize spoilage at storage, mostly weevil infestations. Sitophilus zeamis and S. oryza were the commonly identified weevils in stored maize. Gain lost ranged from 1-5 100 kg bags per farmer anually. Control measures adopted by farmers and traders in managing weevil infestation in storage included the use of chemicals such as Actelic® EC, Baltelic® EC, Attack, Combat, Confidor, Fumigant, Karate and wood ash.
Keywords: Farmers, Traders, Perception, Weevil Incidence, Management, Maize
INTRODUCTION
Cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) has been going on in Ghana for generations. It became a vital staple crop in all regions of Ghana after its introduction in the late 16th century. Maize is Ghana’s most frequently grown and consumed grain crop, and its production has been steadily expanding since 1965. (Morris, et al. 1999; FAO, 2008). In Ghana, rain-fed maize cultivation is primarily carried out by smallholder farmers with limited resources (SARI, 1996). Maize is grown all over the world and is a staple food for most people in different parts of the globe. There are no known poisons connected with the genus Zea, which includes maize (IFBC, 1990). Maize is a key source of calories in Ghana, and according to one assessment, it has practically supplanted sorghum and pearl millet as traditional staple crops in the country’s northern regions (SRID-MoFA, 2011). Between 2007 and 2010, the average annual maize production was 1.5 million MT (Rondon & Ashitey, 2011), with an average yield of roughly 1.7 t/ha (SRID-MoFA, 2011). Maize accounts for more than half of Ghana’s total cereal production, and annual yields have been reported to be increasing at a rate of 1.1 percent each year (IFPRI, 2014). Despite maize’s various economic benefits in Ghana, the crop suffers from significant postharvest losses both in the field and in storage.
