TITLE:
Status of Techniques Used to Control Moulds in Maize Storage in Africa
AUTHORS:
Halfane Lehmane, Rafiatou Ba, Durand Dah-Nouvlessounon, Haziz Sina, Gautier Roko, Farid T. Bade, Akim Socohou, Adolphe Adjanohoun, Lamine Baba-Moussa
KEYWORDS:
Impact, Aflatoxins, Cereals, Conservation, Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.13 No.1,
January
25,
2022
ABSTRACT: In Benin, the preservation of maize is a real problem involving important physical and chemical properties losses. Physical losses are due by rodents, pests and insects and chemical losses are mainly due to fungal infection. Several methods, products and practices are used by farmers to overcome these problems. The methods used do not always control the losses caused by fungal infection. The objective of the study was to make a bibliographic synthesis of the impacts induced by the items, practices and methods used to overcome the chemical losses of maize. In the search for information, the library of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries was consulted; the archives of the library of the University of Abomey-Calavi and the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin were also consulted. Thus, chemicals such as sofagrain, Pyrimiphos-Methyl, Thiamethoxam, Pyrimiphos-Methyl, Permethrin, Deltamethrin, fumigant are used to control physical attacks on maize. Ash and plants species such as neem tree (Azadirachta indica) are generally used for the preservation and storage of maize seeds. In addition, chemicals such as arsenious anhydride and zinc phosphide are used for the preservation of corn. The use of these molecules and chemical products has negative impacts on human health and the environment. Of all the methods used, no treatment is still popularized for the reduction of the chemical losses caused by the fungal infection in corn storage.