Abstract:
An experiment was conducted in 2004 to assess the major pests associated with stored maize, the
damage and losses they cause in Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State. Fifty farm stores were assessed.
Seventeen arthropods, thirteen Coleopterans, three Lepidopterans and one Acarina were documented
from the samples collected. Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) followed by grain moth (Sitotroga
cereallela), rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) and flour beetle (Tribolium confusum) were the major pests of
stored maize in the study area. A major finding of the experiment was that a storage pests particularly,
S. zeamais is the dominant and most important pest of maize in Jimma Zone. This pest was found in
abundance in all areas assessed damaging maize grain. Farmers want to store maize grain for food
security, seed, and to sell when the prices are high enough. However, this pest is a major challenge.
Quantitative average grain damage of 64.50% and losses of 41 to 80% are common in the store within
three to six months after storage. It is recommended that an integrated weevil management method
should be implemented to prevent the high quantitative and qualitative grain losses incurred so as to
contribute towards family food security in Jimma Zone.
