Many farmers lose a lot of produce this time when harvesting has started. In Malawi, the losses can go as high as 30-40%. This is a significant figure that we cannot afford to sustain food security development. Malawi Government is on subsidy program and we cannot afford to lose this much. If we improved on this loss to 7% loss, we do not need to further increase the subsidy program, just look after what has been produced and stored properly. The losses originate from the field with infestation by Sitophilus maize weevils and Prostephanus truncatus, the Larger Grain Borer. Some rotting occurs due to high humidity and improper drying processes. The storage dust pesticides are usually obsolete and it even leads to pesticide treadmills. In processing the grain, high losses abound and if we manage all these processes well, I do think we can sustain food security Development initiatives.
Dr. Andrew T Daudi, Malawi
PS Agriculture, retired
Andrew Daudi