Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
50
Uganda faces additional challenges including maize streak virus, maize weevils, white leaf blight
and maize rust, maize stalk borer, army worms that attack maize during production, and witch
weed (striga) that causes stunting. Birds also cause tremendous losses especially in regions
where birds are not considered a food source.
Table 3.3: Percent Losses when Maize is Harvested at Various Stages Beyond Full Maturity
%Moisture at Harvest (Full Maturity = 30% Moisture)
30% 25% 20% 15%
Missing Grain 1.4% 2.6% 4.7% 8.7%
Damaged Grain 5.5% 8.5% 12.9% 19.7%
Source: Odogola and Henriksson, 1991.
Maize is collected from the field after drying, with approximately 5% overlooked and left to rot
on the ground and then shelled and stored or sold. There is no grading, and if sorted, the same
price per kg is offered. There are no local or national regulatory standards.
One potential solution could be the use of picking bags to harvest maize that is partially dried
while standing on the stalk, followed by the use of tarpaulin to protect the crop during handling
and while completely drying the maize. One picking bag costs approximately US $4 and a
tarpaulin of 5mx8m costs approximately US $12.
Figure 3.1: Decay Symptoms in Stored Maize and in Maize with Beans
Source: Site visits conducted during assessment.
3.1.4. Measures and Strategies Implemented for On-Farm Loss Reduction in Uganda
The objective of the postharvest handling and storage (PHHS) project was to disseminate
improved drying, threshing, cleaning, and storage technologies in the major grain-producing
areas of Uganda. The project was funded by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and Uganda and was initially planned to be housed at the national
postharvest program (Kawanda); however, the project was merged with the IDEA project and
implemented by the food and feed grain institute (FFGI) and Kansas State University (KSU).