IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ssefpa/v10y2018i6d10.1007_s12571-018-0861-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Quantitative and quality losses caused by rodents in on-farm stored maize: a case study in the low land tropical zone of Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Kukom Edoh Ognakossan

    (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
    Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
    World Vegetable Center, West & Central Africa - Dry Regions, Samanko Research Station)

  • Christopher M. Mutungi

    (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
    Egerton University
    International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA))

  • Tobias O. Otieno

    (National Museums of Kenya
    Ewaso Lions Project)

  • Hippolyte D. Affognon

    (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT))

  • Daniel N. Sila

    (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology)

  • Willis O. Owino

    (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology)

Abstract

Rodents are one of the major storage pests in on-farm maize storage in the tropics. However, information on actual magnitude of weight and quality losses caused by rodents in maize stores and species of rodent associated with the losses is scarce and if available would help to improve maize postharvest management. Maize stores of small-scale farmers in the lowland tropical zone of Kenya were monitored for actual weight losses caused by rodents and rodent trapping was conducted to determine species and estimate population of the rodents associated with the losses. Moulds and total aflatoxin contamination and nutritional value of rodent-damaged grain and non-damaged grain samples were also compared to evaluate the impact of rodent infestation on grain quality. In a sample of 20 farmers, we found that cumulative weight losses due to rodents ranged from 2.2 to 6.9% in shelled maize grain and from 5.2 to 18.3% in dehusked cobs after storage for 3 months. Rattus rattus was the only rodent species captured over the whole trapping period with a trap success rate of 0.6–10.0%. Total mould count, Fusarium spp. incidence and total aflatoxin contamination were significantly higher in rodent-damaged grains than in the non-damaged ones whereas no significant differences were observed for the incidence of Aspergillus spp. There were also significant decreases in dry-matter, fat, crude protein and fatty acid content in rodent-damaged grain compared to non-damaged grain. These findings show that rodents are a significant cause of postharvest losses in on-farm maize storage and impact negatively on food nutrition and safety. Mitigation strategies for postharvest losses should therefore include rodent control.

Suggested Citation

  • Kukom Edoh Ognakossan & Christopher M. Mutungi & Tobias O. Otieno & Hippolyte D. Affognon & Daniel N. Sila & Willis O. Owino, 2018. "Quantitative and quality losses caused by rodents in on-farm stored maize: a case study in the low land tropical zone of Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(6), pages 1525-1537, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:10:y:2018:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-018-0861-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-018-0861-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-018-0861-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12571-018-0861-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Singleton, Grant R. & Hinds, Lyn A. & Leirs, Herwig & Zhang, Zhi-Bin (ed.), 1999. "Ecologically-Based Management of Rodent Pests," Monographs, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, number 114821.
    2. Aplin, Ken P. & Brown, Peter R. & Jacob, Jens & Krebs, Charles J. & Singleton, Grant R., 2003. "Field methods for rodent studies in Asia and the Indo-Pacific," Monographs, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, number 114053.
    3. Schuster, Monica & Torero, Máximo, 2016. "Reducing food loss and waste," IFPRI book chapters, in: 2016 Global Food Policy Report, chapter 3, pages 22-31, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Singleton, Grant R. & Hinds, Lyn A. & Krebs, Charles J. & Spratt, Dave M. (ed.), 2003. "Rats, Mice, and People: Rodent Biology and Management," Monographs, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, number 119367.
    5. International Food Policy Research Institute, 2016. "Global Food Policy Report 2016," Working Papers id:10538, eSocialSciences.
    6. Kukom Edoh Ognakossan & Hippolyte D. Affognon & Christopher M. Mutungi & Daniel N. Sila & Soul-Kifouly G. Midingoyi & Willis O. Owino, 2016. "On-farm maize storage systems and rodent postharvest losses in six maize growing agro-ecological zones of Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(6), pages 1169-1189, December.
    7. Affognon, Hippolyte & Mutungi, Christopher & Sanginga, Pascal & Borgemeister, Christian, 2015. "Unpacking Postharvest Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 49-68.
    8. Dariush Mozaffarian & Renata Micha & Sarah Wallace, 2010. "Effects on Coronary Heart Disease of Increasing Polyunsaturated Fat in Place of Saturated Fat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-10, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ambler, Kate & Brauw, Alan de & Godlonton, Susan, 2018. "Measuring postharvest losses at the farm level in Malawi," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 62(1), January.
    2. Lourens H Swanepoel & Corrie M Swanepoel & Peter R Brown & Seth J Eiseb & Steven M Goodman & Mark Keith & Frikkie Kirsten & Herwig Leirs & Themb’alilahlwa A M Mahlaba & Rhodes H Makundi & Phanuel Male, 2017. "A systematic review of rodent pest research in Afro-Malagasy small-holder farming systems: Are we asking the right questions?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Palis, Florencia G. & Sumalde, Zenaida M. & Hossain, Mahabub, 2004. "Assessment of Rodent Control Projects in Vietnam: Adoption and Impact," Impact Assessment Series (IAS) 113225, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
    4. Kotykova, Olena & Babych, Mykola & Pohorielova, Olena, 2020. "Втрати Продовольства Та Харчові Відходи В Ланцюзі Створення Вартості Продовольства В Україні," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 6(3), September.
    5. Christopher Mutungi & Julius Manda & Shiferaw Feleke & Adebayo Abass & Mateete Bekunda & Irmgard Hoschle-Zeledon & Gundula Fischer, 2023. "Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 1007-1023, August.
    6. H. Hengsdijk & W. J. Boer, 2017. "Post-harvest management and post-harvest losses of cereals in Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(5), pages 945-958, October.
    7. Inge M. Krijger & Ahmed A. A. Ahmed & Marga G. A. Goris & Peter W. G. Groot Koerkamp & Bastiaan G. Meerburg, 2019. "Prevalence of Leptospira Infection in Rodents from Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-19, June.
    8. Alexander Michael Kaminski & Steven Michael Cole & Robin Elizabeth Al Haddad & Alexander Shula Kefi & Alex Dennis Chilala & Gethings Chisule & Kelvin Ntaswila Mukuka & Catherine Longley & Shwu Jiau Te, 2020. "Fish Losses for Whom? A Gendered Assessment of Post-Harvest Losses in the Barotse Floodplain Fishery, Zambia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Manda, Julius & Feleke, Shiferaw & Mutungi, Christopher & Tufa, Adane H. & Mateete, Bekunda & Abdoulaye, Tahirou & Alene, Arega D., 2024. "Assessing the speed of improved postharvest technology adoption in Tanzania: The role of social learning and agricultural extension services," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    10. Noriko Amano, 2018. "Nutrition Inequality: The Role of Prices, Income, and Preferences," 2018 Meeting Papers 453, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    11. Lisa Te Morenga & Jason M Montez, 2017. "Health effects of saturated and trans-fatty acid intake in children and adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, November.
    12. Kukom Edoh Ognakossan & Hippolyte D. Affognon & Christopher M. Mutungi & Daniel N. Sila & Soul-Kifouly G. Midingoyi & Willis O. Owino, 2016. "On-farm maize storage systems and rodent postharvest losses in six maize growing agro-ecological zones of Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(6), pages 1169-1189, December.
    13. Tendai Polite Chibarabada & Albert Thembinkosi Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2017. "Nutrient Content and Nutritional Water Productivity of Selected Grain Legumes in Response to Production Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Amanuel Hagos & Mache Tsadik & Abate Bekele Belachew & Afewerki Tesfahunegn, 2021. "Individual and community-level factors influencing optimal breastfeeding: A multilevel analysis from a national survey study of Ethiopia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, April.
    15. Cynthia Yip & Glenis Crane & Jonathan Karnon, 2013. "Systematic review of reducing population meat consumption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and obtain health benefits: effectiveness and models assessments," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(5), pages 683-693, October.
    16. Sadhan Malik & Subodh Chandra Pal & Biswajit Das & Rabin Chakrabortty, 2020. "Assessment of vegetation status of Sali River basin, a tributary of Damodar River in Bankura District, West Bengal, using satellite data," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5651-5685, August.
    17. Berber Kramer, 2017. "Cooking Contests for Healthier Recipes: Impacts on Nutrition Knowledge and Behaviors in Bangladesh," Working Papers id:11943, eSocialSciences.
    18. repec:lic:licosd:42020 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Bonnet, Céline & Bouamra-Mechemache, Zohra & Réquillart, Vincent & Treich, Nicolas, 2020. "Viewpoint: Regulating meat consumption to improve health, the environment and animal welfare," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    20. Liesel Carlsson & Edith Callaghan & Adrian Morley & Göran Broman, 2017. "Food System Sustainability across Scales: A Proposed Local-To-Global Approach to Community Planning and Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-14, June.
    21. Debela, B.L. & Demmler, K.M. & Klasen, S. & Qaim, M., 2018. "Supermarket purchase and child nutritional outcomes in urban Kenya," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277078, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:10:y:2018:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-018-0861-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.