Metal silos provide improved crop storage system for farmers
Reducing postharvest losses have a significant impact on food security.
Ethiopian farmers lose on average 30 percent of their food crops during and after harvest. Crop losses occur at each stage of value chain of the crops in which a farmer is directly involved from harvest to consumption or market. Postharvest losses have negative impacts on food availability, access to food, food supply, and safe and healthy food utilization.
A number of ineffective traditional crop harvesting storage technologies are practised widely in rural Ethiopia. Studies have shown that traditional crop storage systems cause huge crop spoilage and wastage in a country that food insecurity has remained a challenge.
Postharvest loss reduces food availability and income. For Ethiopia, post-harvest loss represents a missed opportunity to feed the country’s growing population and ensure nutrition and food security. It negatively affects household income and the quality of food that finally reaches consumers as well as sustainable food systems.
However, there are improved technologies that farmers can adopt to reduce post-harvest losses. To address the challenges, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched in 2014 a project that aimed to “reduce food loss through improved post-harvest management”.
Awareness and skill training
Through a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, FAO introduced a “metal silo” – an improved grain storage constructed by locally trained artisans and handicraftsmen. Initially key stakeholders including farmers, community-based development workers, crop experts and artisans were given awareness training on the advantages of metal silos in reducing crop losses due to poor storage systems. A metal silo is a cylindrical structure constructed from galvanized iron sheet and hermetically sealed. A metal silo technology has proven to be effective in protecting the harvested grains from attack not only from the storage insects but also from rodent pests.
In collaboration with Melkasa Agricultural Research Centre, FAO facilitated skill training for local artisans to produce metal silos for local farmers’ use. The project purchased metal silos from the artisans and distributed to local farmers. This is an initial stage for introduction and reach out to resource-poor farmers, otherwise capable farmers can directly purchase from the artisans.
Changes – crop quality and income
Farmer Hailu Shumiye, 46, married and a father of four received awareness training and a metal silo through the project. Hailu used to store his sorghum produce in underground pit store (gudguad) which is plastered with mud and fine straw.
This caused multiple problems on the quality of his sorghum. Humidity and moisture inside the pit causes spoilage and colour change. Rodents and crop pests easily attacked the crop. Farmer Hailu said, “Every year I was losing 3 to 5 quintals of my produce which could have been used for own consumption or to make income”.
After he started using a metal silo, Farmer Hailu explains the benefits: “Metal silo prevents crop pests, rodents and moisture. My grain remained clean and healthy. It is easy to use and needs small space to keep indoor. I haven’t spent money to buy insecticide this time.”
The project created self-employment opportunity for metal silo producer artisans at community level. Artisan Wudneh Degu and Abeje Haddis used to rely on meagre income from small-sized metal and woodwork business. Both received skill training and the required tools to make metal silos. Their income grew rapidly from the sale of metal silos, and this ensures continuous supply of metal silos to local farmers even after the project phases out in the future.
Postharvest losses challenge the effort to achieve increased food security in sub-Sharan Africa. Promotion of metal silos have a substantial contribution to African Government’s commitment to reduce food loss and wastage by 50 percent by 2050.
For further information, contact:
Tamiru Legesse l National Communication Officer l [email protected] l +251 911 861 293