Better grain stores for farmers and traders

Partners:
Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Tamale, Ghana
Savanna Agricultural Research Station (SARI), Tamale, Ghana

Problem:
Farm grain storage structures need to offer protection against crop losses due to insects, rodents, moulds, theft and fire.  In this regard, traditional grain storage structures vary considerably in their suitability, and in addition building them may be difficult for poor people in parts of Africa where hardwood supply is limited and travel is required to find suitable timber.  Shortages may also be exacerbated by termite damage.  A project in Zimbabwe (1996-99) and three projects in Ghana (1995-2004) have addressed this issue. 

Achievements:
In Zimbabwe, a modified farm store design was developed using PVC pipes filled with concrete to replace traditional vertical timber supports, which totally excluded rodents and termites.  There is a manual and video to show construction methods. 

In Ghana, mud silos (Bimoba type) were investigated as alternative structures to replace stores built from timber and woven mats.  Mud silos rendered with a bitumen/soil mix or concrete proved the most resistant, although it remains necessary to ensure that crops placed in them have an initial low moisture content (e.g. for maize this would be 11% or lower).  Clear recommendations have been made on how mud silos should be promoted to households and groups wishing to adopt them.  Evidence however shows that mud silos are not fumigable.  Even when they were made gas-tight, their deterioration over two years was sufficient that there was almost total gas loss within two days.  Research has shown that metal or plastic storage structures can be fumigated and that these offer very effective alternatives if farmers or traders can afford them.