Involving grain traders in determining the effect of post-harvest insect damage on the price of maize in African markets

Compton, J.A.F.; Floyd, Sian; Magrath, Priscilla; Addo, Samuel; Gbedevi, S.R.; Agbo, B. E.; Bokor, G.; Amekupe, S.; Motey, Z.; Penni, H.; Kumi, S.

doi:10.1016/s0261-2194(98)00041-6

Cited by 49 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Percentage weight loss was relatively less affected by the fungi, because the difference in weight between infected and uninfected kernels was slight, but percentage grain damage was strongly affected, which may be more important in terms of maize value. Compton et al (1998a) noted that fungal damage had a strong effect on market price, and that percentage grain damage is an appropriate measure of market value.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Sequential Sampling Plans for the Larger Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and the Maize Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and of Visual Grain Assessment in West Africa

Meikle¹,

Holst²,

Degbey³

et al. 2000

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Repeated sampling of rural maize stores in Benin was conducted to evaluate published parameters of a sequential sampling plan for a negative binomial distribution to determine pest status for Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. A computer program was used to rerandomize the data and evaluate the effects, in terms of average sample number and error rates, of different sampling plan parameter values. With respect to P. truncatus, lower and upper thresholds of 0.2 and 1.0 insects per ear and parameter values of k = 0.2 and alpha = beta = 0.1 were found to be adequate. With respect to S. zeamais, lower and upper thresholds of 10 and 20 insects per ear and parameter values of k = 1.0 and i alpha = beta = 0.1 were found to be adequate. Simplified sampling rules were proposed in which 11 ears should be sampled and if no P. truncatus are found, the population is low; otherwise the Wald plan should be followed. Owing to the lower per capita rate of damage, effective simplified sampling rules for S. zeamais were difficult to construct. An evaluation of the visual assessment scale rising whole ears showed that a visual scale estimating percentage damage rather than percentage loss, might be easy to construct and preferable for traders. Further work is needed to improve the usefulness of the visual scale in pest management decision support.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Sequential Sampling Plans for the Larger Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and the Maize Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and of Visual Grain Assessment in West Africa

Meikle¹,

Holst²,

Degbey³

et al. 2000

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“…pet store 0.62 insects/trap/week Toews et al 2003 Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky maize trader 5-6% damage Compton et al 1998 Sitophilus spp. and R. dominica that cause more damage than Tribolium spp.…”

Section: Decision Thresholdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modern Stored-Product Insect Pest Management

Hagstrum¹,

Flinn²

2014

Journal of Plant Protection Research

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Stored-product entomologists have a variety of new monitoring, decision-making, biological, chemical, and physical pest management tools available to them. Two types of stored-product insect populations are of interest: insects of immediate economic importance infesting commodities, and insects that live in food residues in equipment and facilities. The sampling and control methods change as grain and grain products move from field to consumer. There are also some changes in the major insect pest species to take into consideration. In this review, we list the primary insect pests at each point of the marketing system, and indicate which sampling methods and control strategies are most appropriate. Economic thresholds for insect infestation levels developed for raw commodity storage, processing plants, and retail business allow sampling-based pest management to be done before insect infestations cause economic injury. Taking enough samples to have a representative sample (20-30 samples) will generally provide enough information to classify a population as above or below an economic threshold.

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“…P. truncatus was accidentally introduced to Africa from Central America, probably in the late 1970s, and has since spread through at least 15 countries (Hodges et al 1983, Bell et al 1999 where it has caused a dramatic increase in postharvest losses. Weight losses in stores infested with P. truncatus often exceed 20% (Pantenius 1988, and such heavily damaged maize might have little or no market value (Compton et al 1998). Some workers (e.g., Golob and Hanks 1990) have proposed chemical control of these pests in traditional systems.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The issue of proÞtability is complicated by factors such as differences in maize prices between markets and changes over time. Furthermore, buyers of maize at the market are more tolerant of grain damage later in the season than just after harvest (Compton et al 1998), so that, under moderate infestation pressure, farmers may not receive a higher price for treated grain or a return on their pesticide investment.…”

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confidence: 99%

Pest Management in Traditional Maize Stores in West Africa: a Farmer’s Perspective

Meikle¹,

Markham²,

Nansen³

et al. 2002

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Farmers in the Republic of Benin have few resources to invest in protection of stored maize, and prophylactic pesticide application is often recommended by extension and development agencies. Neither the efficacy nor profitability of such an application in traditional maize storage facilities has been addressed quantitatively. In this study, existing management options for stored maize were evaluated monthly over 6 mo in central and southern Benin with respect to their effects on grain injury and on densities of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. P. truncatus infested 54% of the experimental stores in the study even though Teretrius nigrescens (Lewis), a natural enemy introduced against P. truncatus, was well established in the region. S. zeamais was the most common pest, found in 85% of the experimental storage facilities. Prophylactically treated maize was, on average, worth more than untreated maize for month 1 through 5 in southern Benin, after taking into account market price, pesticide costs, percentage grain damage and weight loss, but maize storage was not profitable overall. No difference was observed between treatments in central Benin. After 6 mo treated storage facilities were not significantly different from untreated storage facilities in terms of either percentage damage or profit in either region. A rapid scouting plan intended to provide farmers with a means for identifying storage facilities at greatest risk of severe P. truncatus infestation was field validated. Given that unsafe pesticide use is prevalent in Benin, research and extension services should clearly state the limitations to prophylactic treatment and increase the effort to educate farmers on appropriate pesticide use, store monitoring and marketing.

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Involving grain traders in determining the effect of post-harvest insect damage on the price of maize in African markets

Cited by 49 publications

References 1 publication

Evaluation of Sequential Sampling Plans for the Larger Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and the Maize Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and of Visual Grain Assessment in West Africa

Evaluation of Sequential Sampling Plans for the Larger Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and the Maize Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and of Visual Grain Assessment in West Africa

Modern Stored-Product Insect Pest Management

Pest Management in Traditional Maize Stores in West Africa: a Farmer’s Perspective

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