STORAGE AND HANDLING TECHNIQUES OF MAIZE AND GROUNDNUT IN GHANA: A SURVEY REPORT Page No: 2121-2126

Kutsanedzie Felix, Achio Sylvester and Ameko Edmund

Keywords: Moisture content, moulds, production centers, consumption centers.

Abstract: A survey was carried out on the handling and storage of maize and groundnut by wholesalers at Ejura and Techiman markets in Ashanti Region and Brong Ahafo selected as markets close to production centers;Timber market and the Agbogbloshie market in Greater Accra and Asawasi market in Ashanti as markets close to consumption centers. A total of 77 questionnaires were administered to the targeted clientele and samples of produce collected from each respondent. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and moisture of samples determined by a Hydromette Gann 86 moisture meter. Simple bar and pie charts were plotted and used in describing the responses collected. Analyzed data show that bagging was done mainly with jute, infestation was high at markets close to consumption centers, usage of storage structures are not popular among traders, and most of the samples collected had a moisture content above 14% and were observed to be infested with mold and pests.



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