Understanding farmers’ challenges in maintaining maize quality for industrial use in Ghana: Barriers and strategies

IF 2.7 2区 农林科学 Q1 ENTOMOLOGY Journal of Stored Products Research Pub Date : 2025-03-14 DOI:10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102630
Mensah Amos , Faizal Adams , Prince Asiedu , Vashti Owusu-Nkwantabisah , Samuel Owusu Afriyie
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Abstract

Understanding how smallholder farmers in Ghana maintain maize quality for industrial use is essential, given the challenges they face in meeting industrial standards. This study explores farmers' perceptions of maize grain quality standards, the challenges they encounter in maintaining quality for industrial use, the strategies they adopt to manage quality, and the factors that influence maize quality. The findings indicate that farmers recognize the importance of maize quality but face misconceptions about certain quality aspects, particularly regarding broken or moldy grains. In terms of quality control measures, farmers perceive them as both difficult and costly to implement, citing high costs for certified seeds, labor, and storage facilities as major barriers. Farmers rely on a range of strategies to manage maize quality, focusing on pre-harvest and post-harvest activities such as drying, timely harvesting, sorting, and storing in well-ventilated spaces. Female farmers and those with higher education levels are more likely to meet quality standards, while older farmers face higher rejection rates due to reliance on traditional practices. Key factors influencing maize quality include access to modern storage facilities, knowledge and training in quality standards, and the influence of age, gender, and education. The study also highlights significant logistical challenges, such as inadequate transportation infrastructure and long distances to warehouses, which hinder farmers' ability to maintain maize quality. Despite these constraints, farmers employ a combination of preventive and corrective measures to enhance quality. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, including cost-effective quality control solutions, improved training on modern practices, and better storage and transportation infrastructure to help farmers meet industrial maize standards, improve their productivity, and enhance their livelihoods.
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来源期刊
CiteScore
5.70
自引率
18.50%
发文量
112
审稿时长
45 days
期刊介绍: The Journal of Stored Products Research provides an international medium for the publication of both reviews and original results from laboratory and field studies on the preservation and safety of stored products, notably food stocks, covering storage-related problems from the producer through the supply chain to the consumer. Stored products are characterised by having relatively low moisture content and include raw and semi-processed foods, animal feedstuffs, and a range of other durable items, including materials such as clothing or museum artefacts.
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