Farming System Characterization, and Temperature and Relative Humidity Suitability for Maize grain storage structures in Selected Districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize is the staple food crops in southwestern part of Ethiopia. Proper understanding of the farming systems and characterization across different agro-ecological zones was not studied which contribute to increase production and productivity. In addition, understanding environmental factors suitability for fungal growth can help different actors (farmers and traders) to setup management practices for intervention to reduce post-harvest loss and increase food security. Therefore, the study looked into the farming systems characteristics practiced by farmers and identify suitable temperature and relative humidity in stored maize for fungal pathogens growth in lowland, midland and highland agro-ecological settings considering maize supply chain in Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia. Farming system characterization data and information were collected from 294 respondents (52 in lowland, 140 in midland, and 102 in highland) through household survey, interview and personal observation. Weather variables (temperature and relative humidity) data of inside farmers traditional storage structure (‘gombisa’ Key words: Farming Systems Characteristics, Storage Temperature and Relative Humidity ) and ambient condition were recorded using data loggers (Testo 174 H, testo AG, Germany) from aforementioned agro-ecological settings. The survey result revealed that, mostly land of the study area allocated for cultivation as 53% in lowland, (63%) in midland and (70%) in highland compared to uncultivated and forestland in respective agro-ecology considered for current study. The kruskal-wallis result showed that there was a statistically highly significant (p< 0.001) difference among lowland, midland and highland agro-ecology in land use. In the study area 15 different crops produced, of this maize; teff and sorghum were the most common and dominate food crops. The result also revealed that, study area characterized by cereal based farming systems and majority of farming practices described by mono and mixed cropping system. There were highly significance (p<.001) difference among lowland, midland and highland agro-ecology in farming systems practices of different crops. It was also observed that, there were practices of managing trees in and around farmland. Moisture content of maize during maize harvesting and loading stage was not safe for long term-storage in all agro-ecological settings and storage materials except traders’ storage in low land agro-ecology. Stored maize grains reduce its moisture as storage time increased to 60 days. However, moisture content fluctuate and sometimes increases above safe storage level due to exposure of grain to different ambient temperature and relative humidity and less protection of storage structures from ambient condition. Consequently, it exposes the stored maize grains for mycotoxin-producing fungal growth. High moisture content generally favors the development of storage fungi and low moisture content make the grain unfit for consumption. Monitoring of both temperature and relative humidity showed, all storage types and structures were favorable for fungi (Aspergillus, fusarium, and Pencillium species) growth. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis result revealed that there were highly significant relationship of inside store and outside temperature, and relative humidity of maize grain stored under farmers’ traditional storage, which has a considerable adverse effect on stored maize grain. Nevertheless, there was a non-significant relationship was observed with maize grain stored under collectors and wholesalers’ storage systems. Farming systems in the study area are not homogeneity, mapping and clustering are very important to intervene in adoption of new technology. Furthermore, storage structures and practices in the study areas are not conditioned to reduce maize post-harvest loss that contribute to food security and there is a need to improve storage structures (especially farmers traditional storage systems) to reduce both quantity and quality losses.