The Sunday News
FARMERS have been urged to use preservation techniques when storing their harvested crops so as to guard against qualitative and quantitative losses.
Matabeleland North provincial agronomist, Mr Davison Masendeke, said most farmers managed to obtain an optimum crop yield during the 2013/14 farming season but hinted that there was a need for them to protect their produce by adopting and adhering to proper storage methods.
“The most important thing is to harvest on time as soon as the grains are psychologically mature which is indicated by the presence of a black layer where the seed attaches to the cob. Most pests attack the crop while it is in the field. “Usually if you don’t treat or take precautionary measures you can lose your yield in two to three months. There is a need to guard against qualitative (whereby the grain might be smelly) or quantitative (whereby the grain might be damaged) loss,” Mr Masendeke said. He said the produce should be thrashed as soon as it is taken off the field and stored in a well-ventilated and disinfected corn crib as well as ensuring that the grains are smeared with pesticides.
A corn crib or house is a type of granary used to dry and store corn. After the harvest, corn, still on the cob, is placed in the crib either with or without the husk. The typical corn crib has slats in its walls to allow air to circulate through the corn, both allowing it to dry initially and helping it stay dry. The slats expose the corn to pests, so corn cribs are elevated beyond the reach of rodents.
“Thereafter the grain should be thrashed to remove chaff and then put into bags which should be treated one by one making sure that every grain is coated to ensure that any pests’ eggs are killed, these include weevils that will have come from the fields.
“The grain should be stored in a granary and after every six months it should be subjected to checking to establish if there is threat of damage. You should also make sure you are aware of the safety chemical period before use,” Mr Masendeke said.
