Assessment of rodent damage to stored maize (Zea mays L.) on smallholder farms in Tanzania

Mdangi, M.; Mulungu, Loth S.; Massawe, A.W.; Eiseb, S.J.; Tutjavi, V.; Kirsten, F.; Mahlaba, T.; Malebane, P.; Maltitz, E. von; Monadjem, A.; Dlamini, N.; Makundi, Rhodes H.

dc.creator	Mdangi, M.
dc.creator	Mulungu, Loth S.
dc.creator	Massawe, A.W.
dc.creator	Eiseb, S.J.
dc.creator	Tutjavi, V.
dc.creator	Kirsten, F.
dc.creator	Mahlaba, T.
dc.creator	Malebane, P.
dc.creator	Maltitz, E. von
dc.creator	Monadjem, A.
dc.creator	Dlamini, N.
dc.creator	Makundi, Rhodes H.
dc.date	2016-11-17T12:25:26Z
dc.date	2016-11-17T12:25:26Z
dc.date	2014
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-25T08:53:40Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-25T08:53:40Z
dc.identifier	0967-0874
dc.identifier	https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/932
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/94003
dc.description	International Journal of Pest Management, 2013 Vol. 59, No. 1, 55–62,
dc.description	This study examined rodent damage, loss and contamination in stored maize on smallholder farms in East Africa. Different, novel techniques for assessing rodent damage, namely open and closed storage structures (cribs and sacks), were employed in a treatment-control trial design replicated across different households and hamlets within the Berega community of Central Tanzania. Significant correlations were observed between the monthly rates of rodent-damaged maize seeds, maize weight loss and the number of rodent droppings. Significant differences in damage, loss and contamination occurred between different storage structures (open and closed cribs and sacks). The mean monthly rate of damage was 40.4%, 7.9%, 17.7% and 0% percent in open cribs, closed cribs, open sacks and closed sacks, respectively. Our results suggest that reducing rodent infestation through the use of improved storage structures could lead to major savings in the amount and quality of stored food available to households, thus increasing food security.
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Taylor & Francis
dc.subject	Contamination
dc.subject	Post-harvest
dc.subject	Rodent damage
dc.subject	Storage structures
dc.subject	Weight loss
dc.title	Assessment of rodent damage to stored maize (Zea mays L.) on smallholder farms in Tanzania
dc.type	Article