3. they can also be grounded or use in powered as flour for baking bread, biscuits e.t.c. the stem can be used to feed the animals and used as mulching materials.
2. Poor usage of storage facilities.
3. Inadequate facilities for storing agricultural products.
4. Climatic factors: rainfall, temperature, solar radiation.
5. Soil factors: pests and diseases, migration.
· To find out the major diseases affecting the storage of maize.
· To identify the varieties of maize planted and to know the method of storing them.
· Lack of incentives from government to the farmers.
1. What are the types of grain crops grown by the farmers?
2. What are the reasons for choosing maize?
3. What are the items used for maize storage?
4. What are the problems of maize storage?
5. What are the possible solutions to the problems?
· STORAGE: This is the process preserving the original quality of agricultural produce to avoid spoilage in both plants and animals for future use and for further processing.
· CRIB: Crib storage recently gained research interest because of its potentials. The traditional crib has been improved. The conventional crib storage made of improved material such as sawn wood, iron or wire mesh, plastic roof and treated bamboo. The conventional cribs have increased capacity and could store up to 15tons of cob maize. It is therefore used for medium scale storage.
· SILO/BIN STORAGE: A silo, also referred to as a bin is basically a huge container used for the storage of agricultural produce. Silo is used for bulky storage of grains such as shelled maize, threshed rice, sorghum or guinea corn and millet. Silos may be circular or rectangular in section.
· WAREHOUSE: Warehouse is used for both medium and large scale storage. Bagged products are normally stored in the warehouse. Occasionally bulk materials are stored in the warehouse. Modern warehouses are provided with materials handling equipment, especially when bulk materials are stored.
· SHELF STORAGE: This is an improved storage for root crops. Roof crops could be stored on shelf for a longer time; through moisture loss is too much. Shelf is mostly made of wood or metal.