Abstract

Storage pests are a major concern to smallholder farmers in Africa south of the Sahara since their livelihoods heavily depend on subsistence agriculture. These farmers depend mainly on traditional grain storage materials and pest management methods, both of which are generally ineffective against pests. Here we provide insights into stored-grain losses suffered by highland and lowland farmers in northern Ethiopia using a survey conducted during the 2016/2017 cropping season. A total of 109 household heads were interviewed and about half were visited for observation of grain storage materials. Irrespective of agroecology, the predominant stored-grain pests were weevils, rats, and termites. Both highland and lowland farmers stored grains in woven polythene sacks and dung made barrels indoors, and in barns outdoors. Some lowland farmers stored grains in underground pits outdoors. While highland farmers suffered an 8.03% average annual grain loss to the storage pests, the lowland farmers suffered a 12.18% average annual grain loss, which was significant (p = 0.007). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated significantly higher stored-grain losses in (i) lowland than highland farmers, (ii) households with heads holding village administrative positions than households with heads not holding any village administrative position, (iii) households storing grains for an additional month than households that did not and (iv) households storing grains in other indoor storage materials than households storing grains in woven polythene bags with plastic liners inside (p < 0.05). Households with one more family member working on the farm and household heads who had attended training on pest management suffered significantly lower losses (p < 0.05). Innovative storage methods and environmentally benign management options are recommended.

摘要

储存害虫是撒哈拉以南非洲小农的主要关注点，因为他们的生计严重依赖自给农业。这些农民主要依靠传统的储粮材料和害虫管理方法，这两种方法通常对害虫都无效。在这里，我们通过在 2016/2017 种植季节进行的一项调查，深入了解埃塞俄比亚北部高地和低地农民所遭受的储粮损失。共采访了109户户主，约半数户主参观了储粮物资。不考虑农业生态学，主要的储粮害虫是象鼻虫、老鼠和白蚁。高地和低地农民都将谷物储存在编织的聚乙烯袋中，并在室内和室外的谷仓中储存粪便。一些低地农民将谷物储存在户外的地下坑中。高地农户年均因贮藏害虫损失粮食8.03%，低地农户年均损失12.18%。p  = 0.007)。多元线性回归分析表明，(i) 低地农民的储粮损失显着高于高地农民，(ii) 以村长为村长的农户高于非村长农户，(iii) 为长期储存粮食的农户比没有的家庭多一个月，(iv) 将谷物储存在其他室内储存材料的家庭比储存谷物的家庭储存在编织聚乙烯袋中，里面有塑料衬里 ( p  < 0.05)。多一名家庭成员在农场工作的家庭和参加过虫害管理培训的户主遭受的损失显着降低（p < 0.05)。建议采用创新的储存方法和对环境无害的管理方案。