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handling of grain at Musami, Murewa. University of Zimbabwe researcher, Dr Brighton Mvumi said researchers worldwide could come up with different crop and fertiliser varieties to boost yields but if the issue of post harvest losses is not addressed, food security will remain a challenge.
“Production only is not important but there is need to ensure proper handling to ensure food security,” he said.
Dr Mvumi said post harvest handling of crops was very important and it should be prioritised even on the national budget.
“Over 10 percent of maize can be lost if farmers do not have proper storage and handling facilities,” he said.
Farmers attending the workshop raised concern over the high losses they were incurring after harvesting their maize. They said weevils and larger grain borer, (LGB) were destroying maize in silos and granaries had become resistant to available chemicals hence the need to come up with new chemicals.
Farmers said they had tried using other methods of protecting grain without success. Mrs Angeline Nyamukondiwa said she had resorted to applying double amounts of chemicals to destroy the pests.
The parallel market, it was established, is offering tablets that kill pests and farmers are now resorting to that.
Online Reporter