Effect of Some Storage Methods on the Quality of Maize Grown in the Ashanti Mampong Municipality of Ghana
Osborn Addae Duah
Mampong Technical College of Education, Affiliated to the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
Michael Odenkey Quaye *
St. Louis College of Education, Kumasi, Affiliated to the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
Albert Nyarko
St. Ambrose College of Education, Dormaa-Akwamu, Afiliated to the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study aims at finding an acceptable storage method for three varieties of Maize grown in the Ashanti Mampong Municipality of Ghana. Survey and standard laboratory protocols were carried out to gather the necessary data for the study. The background study revealed that 18%, 13%, 24%, 15%, 12%, 8% and 10% of farmers store their maize by heaping on the floor, storing in cribs, conventional jute sack, plastic drum, clay pot, triple-layer hermetic bag and polypropylene respectively. The findings also indicated that moisture loss was reduced in the plastic drum and triple-layer hermetic bag after the four months of storage. The proximate composition of the stored produce showed that maize preserved better in the triple layer hermetic bag. It is recommended that the triple-layer hermetic bag should be extensively used in storing maize as it has the ability to reduce moisture loss, and also preserving the nutritional and market value of the produce stored in it.
Keywords: Storage method, maize, grain, postharvest.