Does access to improved grain storage technology increase farmers' welfare? Experimental evidence from maize farming in Ethiopia

Hugo De Groote Bart Minten (2024, [Artículo])

Seasonal price variability for cereals is two to three times higher in Africa than on the international reference market. Seasonality is even more pronounced when access to appropriate storage and opportunities for price arbitrage are limited. As smallholder farmers typically sell their production after harvest, when prices are low, this leads to lower incomes as well as higher food insecurity during the lean season, when prices are high. One solution to reduce seasonal stress is the use of improved storage technologies. Using data from a randomised controlled trial, in a major maize-growing region of Western Ethiopia, we study the impact of hermetic bags, a technology that protects stored grain against insect pests, so that the grain can be stored longer. Despite considerable price seasonality—maize prices in the lean season are 36% higher than after harvesting—we find no evidence that hermetic bags improve welfare, except that access to these bags allowed for a marginally longer storage period of maize intended for sale by 2 weeks. But this did not translate into measurable welfare gains as we found no changes in any of our welfare outcome indicators. This ‘near-null’ effect is due to the fact that maize storage losses in our study region are relatively lower than previous studies suggested—around 10% of the quantity stored—likely because of the widespread use of an alternative to protect maize during storage, for example a cheap but highly toxic fumigant. These findings are important for policies that seek to promote improved storage technologies in these settings.

Hermetic Storage Randomised Controlled Trial CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA STORAGE PILOT FARMS SEASONALITY WELFARE MAIZE

Biofortification to avoid malnutrition in humans in a changing climate: Enhancing micronutrient bioavailability in seed, tuber, and storage roots

Ana Luisa Garcia-Oliveira Mahalingam Govindaraj Rodomiro Ortiz (2023, [Artículo])

Bioaccessibility and Absorption Biofortified Crop Cultivars Genes and Genetic Markers Nutrient Acquisition Transport and Storage CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA BIOAVAILABILITY ABSORPTION CLIMATE CHANGE GENETIC MARKERS GENETIC ENGINEERING NUTRIENTS TRANSPORT STORAGE

On-farm storage loss estimates of maize in Kenya using community survey methods

Hugo De Groote Anani Bruce (2023, [Artículo])

Maize is the most important staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with highly seasonal production. High storage losses affect food security, but good estimations are lacking. A new method using focus group discussions (FGDs) was tested with 121 communities (1439 farmers, 52% women) in Kenya's six maize-growing zones, to estimate the maize losses to storage pests and analyze farmer practices. As control strategies, half of the farmers used chemical pesticides (49%), while hermetic bags (16%) and botanicals (15%) were also popular. Relative loss from weevils in the long rains was estimated at 23%, in the short rains 18%, and annually 21%. Fewer farmers were affected by the larger grain borer (LGB) than by maize weevils: 42% in the long rainy season and 32% in the short rainy season; losses from LGB were also smaller: 19% in the long season, 17% in the short season, and 18% over the year. Total storage loss, from both species combined, was estimated at 36%, or 671,000 tonnes per year. The greatest losses occur in the humid areas, especially the moist mid-altitudes (56%), and with smaller loss in the drylands (20–23%). Extrapolating the point data and overlaying with the maize production map shows the geographic distribution of the losses, with the most important area found around Lake Victoria. FGDs provide convenient and cheap tools to estimate storage losses in representative communities, but a total loss estimate of 36% is higher than is found in other studies, so its accuracy and framing effects need to be assessed. We conclude that storage pests remain a major problem, especially in western Kenya, and that the use of environmentally friendly technologies such as hermetic storage and botanicals needs more attention, both by the public extension service and private agrodealers.

Larger Grain Borer Maize Weevil CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE STORAGE LOSSES PESTS SURVEY METHODS

Seed integrity, effect of temperature and storage time on germination of Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis, endangered subtropical species from Mexico

César Jacobo Pereira MIGUEL ANGEL MUÑIZ CASTRO JOSE ANTONIO VAZQUEZ GARCIA Joel David Flores Rivas ALEJANDRO MUÑOZ URIAS FRANCISCO MARTIN HUERTA MARTINEZ (2022, [Artículo])

"Background: Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis are endemic species of western Mexico; growing in riparian forests they are critically endangered. The best way to conserve their seeds is unknown, which could be limiting for their conservation.

Hypothesis: The germinability of both subtropical species is like that of boreal and template Salicaceae species that disperse seeds in spring and early summer, as they germinate quickly with high percentages, and rapidly lose their viability when stored at ambient temperature.

Studied species: Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis. Study site and dates: Western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Jalisco, Mexico. October 2019.

Methods: The physical integrity of the seeds was assessed by X-ray imaging and compared with germinability. In addition, the effect of storage time (nine weeks) under two temperatures (4 and 21 °C) on the percentage and mean germination rate was evaluated.

Results: No significant differences were found between physical integrity and germination in freshly collected seeds for both species. Germination in the first 24 hrs was 91 and 95 % for Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis, respectively (week 0). Germination percentages were lower when stored at 21 °C, but P. primaveralepensis was decreased more slowly.

Conclusions: Seeds of subtropical Populus respond similarly to those of species from temperate and boreal climates with early seed dispersal, a crucial condition for establishing ex situ reforestation and conservation programs."

Salicaceae Seed physical integrity Seed storage conditions Subtropical endemic species White poplars BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA BIOLOGÍA VEGETAL (BOTÁNICA) BIOLOGÍA VEGETAL (BOTÁNICA)

Aplicación de 1-MCP en diferentes ecotipos de ciruela mexicana (Spondias purpurea L.) de México

MARÍA GORETTI TRANSITO DAMASO (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

La ciruela mexicana es un frutal nativo de México, se distribuye en la vertiente del

Pacífico, centro de Veracruz y Península de Yucatán. El árbol de ciruela mexicana

produce frutos de diferentes tamaños, colores y sabores, existe una gran diversidad

que se aprecia tanto en los meses de marzo a junio, como de septiembre a noviembre.

El principal uso de la fruta es en fresco como fruta de temporada, la vida útil de la

ciruela de estación seca no es mayor a 5 d, por lo cual es un frutal que se considera

importante de manera local. Actualmente poco se han desarrollado y evaluado

tecnologías para incrementar la vida útil de este producto hortícola, por lo que en el

presente trabajo se evaluó la respuesta de cinco ecotipos de ciruela mexicana a la

aplicación de 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP), con la finalidad de proponerlo para el

desarrollo del manejo poscosecha adecuado de esta fruta. Durante abril a septiembre

de 2022 se cosecharon frutos de ciruela mexicana procedentes de Guerrero y Morelos.

Los frutos se cosecharon en etapa ½ verde. Los frutos fueron transportados al

Laboratorio de Producción Agrícola de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias en la

Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, donde se lavaron y se dejaron secar al

ambiente. Posteriormente se colocaron en cajas de plástico herméticas durante 12 h

y se aplicó 0, 500 y 1000 nL L-1 de 1-MCP, se evaluaron a temperatura ambiente (24.9

± 1 °C; 55.1 ± 6 % HR) y después de 5, 10 y 15 d en almacenamiento a 12 °C. Se

evaluaron los cambios fisicoquímicos y fisiológicos de cada ecotipo. La aplicación de

1-MCP, independiente del tiempo de almacenamiento inhibió y retrasó la velocidad de

respiración y producción de etileno, mantuvo la firmeza y retrasó la pigmentación

característica de cada ecotipo, con poca acción en la concentración de sólidos solubles

totales y acidez titulable, sin efecto claro en compuestos fenólicos, flavonoides y

actividad antioxidante, y sin ningún efecto en la pérdida de masa. El efecto del 1-MCP

permite conservar la fruta a temperatura ambiente hasta 6 u 8 d; la refrigeración a 12

°C potencia la acción del 1-MCP permitiendo conservar hasta 9 a 20 d después de

salir de almacenamiento.

The Mexican plum is a fruit native to Mexico, it is distributed on the Pacific slope, central

Veracruz and Yucatan Peninsula. The Mexican plum tree produces fruits of different

sizes, colors and flavors, there is a great diversity that is appreciated both in the months

of March to June, and from September to November. The main use of the fruit is fresh

as a seasonal fruit, the shelf life of the dry season plum is not more than 5 d, so it is a

fruit tree that is considered important locally. Currently, little technologies have been

developed and evaluated to increase the shelf life of this horticultural product, so in this

work the response of five ecotypes of Mexican plum to the application of 1-

methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was evaluated, in order to propose it for the development

of adequate postharvest management of this fruit. During April to September 2022,

Mexican plum fruits were harvested from Guerrero and Morelos. The fruits were

harvested in stage 1/2 green. The fruits were transported to the Agricultural Production

Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the Autonomous University of the

State of Morelos, where they were washed and left to dry in the environment.

Subsequently, they were placed in airtight plastic boxes for 12 h and 0, 500 and 1000

nL L-1 of 1-MCP were applied, evaluated at room temperature (24.9 ± 1.1 °C; 55.1 ±

6.2 % RH) and after 5, 10 and 15 d in storage at 12 °C. The physicochemical and

physiological changes of each ecotype were evaluated. The application of 1-MCP,

independent of storage time inhibited and delayed the rate of respiration and production

of ethylene, maintained the firmness and delayed the pigmentation characteristic of

each ecotype, with little action on the concentration of total soluble solids and titratable

acidity, with no clear effect on phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity,

and without any effect on mass loss. The effect of 1-MCP allows the fruit to be

preserved at room temperature up to 6 or 8 d; cooling at 12 °C enhances the action of

1-MCP allowing to preserve up to 9 to 20 d after leaving storage

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS AGRARIAS Ciruela mexicana, 1-metilciclopropeno, almacenamiento, refrigeración, calidad, poscosecha Mexican plum, 1-methylcyclopropene, storage, refrigeration, quality, postharvest.