Ngwenyama, Patrick, Siziba, Shephard, Stathers, Tanya E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7767-6186, Nyanga, Loveness K. and Mvumi, Brighton M. (2025) Economic assessment of shelled maize and cowpea storage practices among smallholder farmers: evidence from Zimbabwe. Journal of Stored Products Research, 116:102901. ISSN 0022-474X (Print), 1879-1212 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.jspr.2025.102901)

Preview

PDF (Author's Accepted Manuscript) 51835 STATHERS_Economic_Assessment_Of_Shelled_Maize_And_Cowpea_Storage_Practices_(AAM)_2025.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (526kB) | Preview

Abstract

Hermetic storage bags (HSBs) are being introduced to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan African countries to help mitigate postharvest grain losses. For widespread adoption of storage technologies to occur, they need to be acceptable, effective and economical. This study examined the economic impact of using different grain storage practices among smallholder farmers in selected districts of Zimbabwe. A partial budget analysis was employed to estimate the economic costs and benefits of storage practices and to compute the Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) between alternative storage practices. The results indicated that for maize and cowpeas, the MRR of changing from storing untreated grain in polypropylene bags to using HSBs was 544% and 3059%, respectively; assuming a 3-season lifespan of HSBs. If HSBs only last a single season’s use, they are not economically viable for maize, but when used for two seasons, they yield a marginally acceptable return (MRR = 115%). For cowpeas, even if the lifespan is limited to one or two seasons, use of HSBs remain economically viable, yielding MRRs of 252% and 955%, respectively. This highlights the need for proper handling, hygiene, and maintenance of HSBs to ensure durability and maximise economic benefits. For maize, synthetic chemical grain protectant pesticide (GPP) had a higher cost and lower net benefit than HSBs, so was considered a dominated treatment, indicating HSB use would be preferable. Economically, HSBs offer the best return on investment, helping smallholder farmers reduce losses and pesticide use, in addition to enhancing food, income, and nutrition security.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	economic impact assessment, hermetic storage bags, food and nutrition security, technology adoption, Sustainable Development Goal 12.3
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Systems & Nutrition Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Waste & Postharvest Technology
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2025 16:25
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/51835

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads