Farmers in Acholi Tipped on Best Practices for Post-Harvest Maize Management

In a bid to enhance the quality and market of maize, a section of farmers from parts of the Acholi sub-region are undergoing training on proper post-harvest handling, storage and adherence to the market standards.

The training that commenced on Tuesday in Gulu City is being conducted by the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiation Institute (SEATINI) and targeting farmers from Gulu and Amuru Districts.

Jonathan Lubega, the Programme Officer at SEATINI noted that the training aims at equipping farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure they produce maize that meets the quality standards for both the local and international markets.

Lubega said many farmers in the sub-region have failed to access better markets within and outside the country due to a lack of knowledge on best farming practices in the maize value chain.

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Lubega noted that through the training, they expect the farmers to have a mindset change on the farming practices and compliance to standards that influence their potential in accessing the markets.

For instance, he says the best farming practices in the maize value chain start from how the farmers harvest their maize and handle the processes of drying, storage and packaging.

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Among those who benefited from the training included traders, millers, middlemen and local government leaders from Gulu City, Gulu and Amuru districts.

Jackson Lakor, the Gulu District Production Officer however cautioned on the use of pesticides by farmers arguing that while it helps to fight pests and diseases, its usage must be regulated and should be a last resort by a farmer.

Lakor stressed that pesticide usage can contaminate the soil, compromise the standard of maize grains leaving it unmarketable and ultimately cause life-threatening diseases to farmers and consumers of maize products.

Gadson Asiimwe, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) noted that poor post-harvest handling accounts for nearly 25 percent of losses of maize produced annually within the country. According to MAAIF statistics, farmers produce an estimated 5 metric tons of maize yearly across the country.

Asiimwe noted that practices such as the use of unclean storage and packaging facilities, wrong shelling equipment and drying of maize grains on the ground reduce the quality of maize grains and their marketability.

He emphasized that farmers must ensure they adopt the right recommended practices of proper post-harvest handling to promote compliance and competitiveness in the maize value chain within and outside Uganda.

“Make sure you do not store maize that has not dried well. Do not use sacks that have been used for carrying matooke, sorghum, and the one that you are using for bricks. Let us use clean packaging material, clean sacks and in your store, the grain should never be on the floor,” Asiimwe told the farmers.

While the majority of the farmers who attended the training expressed optimism that the knowledge gained will improve their farming practices, others raised concerns about challenges that have impeded their breakthrough in the maize value chain.

Vicky Lukwiya, one of the farmers noted that the limited access to extension workers in the rural areas is greatly affecting farmers to improve their farming skills. 

She called on MAAIF to increase the number of extension workers near farmers to help farmers access the latest agricultural information.

Lilly Grace Ajok, a maize transporter however said the use of pesticide by farmers is greatly affecting their business. Ajok cited that on separate occasions, the maize produce she was transporting to South Sudan was blocked at the border point of Nimule Township on suspicion that they were contaminated with chemicals.

In January, SEATINI launched a project dubbed strengthening the maize value chain’s compliance and competitiveness in the Elegu market in Amuru district and Gulu district. The project aims to enhance compliance with maize standards among value chain actors in the selected districts of Amuru and Gulu.