Prime
Poor post-harvest handling leads to food loss
New research shows that poor storage of grains post-harvest can lead to poisoning. File photo
Nuruh Kaweesa has been a maize farmer for the last six years. When asked about her storage capacity, she says that is a matter she considers when she has harvested. Kaweesa says when the harvest is “a lot” she stores her crop with the neighbours. What she does not realise is that this ad hoc practice costs her in the long run.
Researchers at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) have indicated that poor post-harvest practices can lead to food loss and also cause contamination of grains and beans with aflatoxins.
Studies supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme have shown a 10 per cent food loss resulting from poor post-harvest practices by farmers around the country.
Dr Harriet Muyinza Kayongo, a senior research officer at Naro said that some of the samples collected have unacceptable levels of aflatoxins due to challenges in the supply chain system.
“When we collected samples, some of them had unaccepted levels of aflatoxins of 10 packs per billion. Thirty per cent of the maize samples beyond the acceptable levels,” said Dr Muyinza.
“We are anticipating that the losses could be higher but there were actually higher at the aggregators’ level, people who are buying grain from farmers, sometimes buy good quality grain but because they keep it long without any drying facility, it causes damage,” she explained.
Dr Muyinza said the aggregators mix good grain with bad grain, which affects it in a storage facility.
She said to overcome aflatoxin contamination, there is need to train farmers and the bulkers to dry and store the grain properly.
“For example, having a policy where farmers should have a moisture metre, this will immediately reduce wet maize,” Dr Muyinza added.
She also called for a standard where someone dealing in maize/grain has rapid tests for the level of aflatoxins.
“Don’t mill contaminated maize at the buyers point as this will roll down back to the farmer,” she said.
The research results were disseminated at the validation workshop held in Kampala on Monday aimed to identify the weak points of the food supply chain.
