Journal
SUSTAINABILITY
Volume 14, Issue 9, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/su14095129
Keywords
grain storage; insect pests; postharvest losses; airtight technologies; food safety
Funding
- Purdue University - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) [INV-006972]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Insect infestation during the storage of cowpea is a major challenge for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. A study in Northern Ghana found that most farmers prefer using PICS technology to store cowpea due to its effectiveness in reducing pesticide-related health risks.
Insect infestation during the storage of cowpea is a major challenge among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Farmers use various postharvest storage methods to deal with insect pests, including insecticides, which may result in health and environmental hazards. Four hundred (400) cowpea farmers were interviewed on their perceptions and preference of different storage methods in Northern Ghana. About 58% of farmers applied insecticides, 50% used ash, and 42% used hermetic triple-layer bags (Purdue Improved Crop Storage, PICS) to store cowpea. Most farmers (85.6%) preferred the PICS technology for its effectiveness (compared to insecticides, ash, and botanicals). Reasons for the non-use of PICS bags included unavailability (39.5%) and high price (11.7%). Farmers perceived that storing cowpea in PICS bags lowered pesticide-related health risks for both farmers and consumers. Thus, there is a need to improve the availability and affordability of PICS bags in Northern Ghana.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available