Quality Protein Maize Production and Post-Harvest Handling Handbook for East and Central Africa
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Quality protein maize production and post-harvest handling handbook for East and Central Africa Godfrey Asea, Julius Serumaga, Zubeda Mduruma, Lydia Kimenye and Moses Odeke Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa 2014 © 2014 Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa Correct citation Asea G, Serumaga J, Mduruma Z, Kimenye L and Odeke M. 2014. Quality protein maize production and post-harvest handling handbook for East and Central Africa. ASARECA (Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa), Entebbe. Fair use policy This publication may be reproduced with the intention of increasing its availability to those who need it. ASARECA encourages fair use of reproduced material. Proper citation is requested. Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) Plot 5, Mpigi Road PO Box 765 Entebbe, Uganda tel: +256 414 320212/320556/321885 fax: +256 414 321126/322593 email: [email protected] website: www.asareca.org Designer: Timothy Maleche, ImageMate, Nairobi, Kenya ISBN: 978-9970-484-07-2 DISCLAIMER “This document has been produced with funds provided by the African Development Bank, through the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, to ASARECA. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of ASARECA and her implementing partners, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the African Development Bank.” The authors Godfrey Asea National Crops Resources Research Institute PO Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda Julius Serumaga National Crops Resources Research Institute PO Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda Zubeda Mduruma Aminata Seed Company PO Box 6115, Tanga, Tanzania Lydia Kimenye Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa PO Box 765, Entebbe, Uganda Moses Odeke Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa PO Box 765, Entebbe, Uganda Table of Contents Foreword................................................................................................................. vi Preface.................................................................................................................... vii Introduction............................................................................................................ 1 Soil type and land selection.................................................................................... 3 Field preparation methods...................................................................................... 4 Planting................................................................................................................... 6 Weed control.......................................................................................................... 10 Some aspects of QPM seed and grain contamination............................................ 15 Soil nutrient management....................................................................................... 17 Constraints to QPM production and control measures.......................................... 24 Important features of quality in Qpm...................................................................... 32 Harvest and post-harvest management of Qpm..................................................... 33 Value addition......................................................................................................... 43 The role of standards in maize................................................................................ 51 Definitions of maize defects.................................................................................... 52 Essential composition of quality factors.................................................................. 54 References.............................................................................................................. 56 v Quality Protein Maize Production and Post Harvest Handling Handbook for East and Central Africa Foreword aize will continue to play a very important increase maize production and productivity and Mrole in the livelihoods of most of the achieve targeted food and nutrition security and population in East and Central Africa (ECA) to household incomes. I would like to thank authors meet households’ needs for food, feed and and all other stakeholders who contributed to the income. The development and release of quality production of this handbook. protein maize (QPM) varieties, which contain high levels of protein has meant that it can be a About ASARECA substitute for the more costly sources of protein for human food such as meat and for fishmeal The Association for Strengthening Agricultural or artificial lysine used in the production of feeds Research in Eastern and Central Africa for poultry and pig enterprises. The handbook (ASARECA) is a not-for-profit sub-regional was developed by NARS institutions in Kenya, organisation comprising 11 countries: Burundi, Tanzania, DR. Congo, Uganda in partnership the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, with the Knowledge Management and Upscaling Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, South Programme of ASARECA while promoting scaling Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Its mission out of the QPM technologies in these countries is: To enhance regional collective action in under a project known as “Dissemination of New agricultural research for development, extension Agricultural Technologies in Africa (DONATA)”. and agricultural training and education to promote economic growth, fight poverty, eradicate hunger This handbook is a comprehensive one-stop and enhance sustainable use of resources in ECA. source of information on how QPM is grown using recommended practices to achieve ASARECA brings together scientists and other genetic potential of the varieties. It also contains partners to generate, share and promote management options for economically important knowledge and innovations to solve common diseases and insect pests, post-harvest handling problems in agriculture in member countries and utilization. The practices documented in and contribute to productivity and growth of the this manual are based on practical experience sector. Its partners include farmers, national, of researchers in the region who worked regional and international research, extension, with farmers to identify common problems in and training organisations, public and private production of QPM and to validate the improved sector actors, non-governmental organisations practices presented in it. These can be applied to (NGOs) and development agencies. other types of maize and areas within the region that broadly fall within the same mega-maize environment. It is my hope that this handbook will be useful to Dr Fina A Opio farmers and extension agents in their efforts to Executive Director, ASARECA vi Quality Protein Maize Production and Post Harvest Handling Handbook for East and Central Africa Preface his book was developed under the that limit QPM production and management T‘Dissemination of New Agricultural options to address them. The handbook is Technologies in Africa’ (DONATA) project whose therefore intended for farmers, extension agents purpose was to increase uptake and adoption and agricultural practitioners. The book also of quality protein maize (QPM) technologies provides an opportunity to disseminate and in the Eastern and Central Africa region (ECA). emphasize recommended agronomic practices In ECA, maize is a dominant food and feed as for optimal QPM production. The agronomic well as a source of income for majority of rural practices used in this book are common and can households. In addition to overcoming food be applied by farmers anywhere within the region security concerns in the region, there is potential who are within the same maize agro-ecological to address malnutrition in children and vulnerable environment. groups who are at risk from consuming maize as the main staple food. Quality protein maize We wish to thank collaborating partners and (QPM) contains twice the amount of essential institutions who have contributed to this amino acids required for growth by humans handbook in various ways. In particular, Ms Rose and monogastric animals. It therefore has an Ubwe from Selian Agricultural Research Institute, advantage over normal maize to ameliorate the Tanzania, Mr Charles Bett from Kenya Agricultural effect of malnutrition cost effectively. Research and Livestock Research organization and Dr efforts in the ECA region have developed and Mbuya Kankolongo from INERA, Democratic released a number of adapted and high yielding Republic of Congo and Mr Isaak Mashauri of QPM varieties. However, average farm yields Tanseed International for their valuable inputs. remain extremely low compared to the potential We acknowledge reviewers who generously genetic performance of the varieties. One major reviewed drafts of this handbook and provided reason for the big yield disparity is poor crop useful comments. We also thank Ms Jacqueline management and low use of inputs, especially Nyagahima, Head of Communication and Public fertilizers. Relations, ASARECA, for valuable editorial inputs. This handbook was developed based on Lydia Kimenye, PhD experience with farmers over the years in a Programme Manager, Knowledge Management simplified manner for the users to identify and Upscaling ASARECA common and major biotic and abiotic constraints vii Introduction aize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main can help