IITA scientists train WFP Kano third-party warehouse managers on grain management best practices
September 16, 2022
IITA–CGIAR and the World Food Program (WFP), Kano, conducted grain management and hermetic storage training for WFP Kano third-party warehouse managers. The workshop took place on 29 and 30 August and aimed to build the participants’ capacity to manage food commodities effectively, preserve food quality and value, minimize damage and food waste, and safeguard the health and well-being of the consumers.
Research Associate Ishaya Jockson demonstrating grain storage with PICs bags.
WFP and E-health staff were trained on the grain management chain and grain sampling for physical assessment. They also learned how to safely store and protect their grain using PICs bags, applying chemicals where necessary, and sampling each bag to check for damage before dispatch. They also learned standard cleaning techniques of grains and levels of pest attack and control in the store, and the different pests that attack grains in storage.
Food Safety Scientist Dr Titilayo Falade presenting to WFP and E-health staff.
IITA Host Plant Resistance Entomologist Abou Togola, Food Safety Scientist Titilayo Falade, and Research Associate Ishaya Jockson anchored the training. The workshop participants were educated on commodity safety and human health, focusing on store and environmental hygiene. They also learned to identify safe grains for consumption.
Food safety is vital, and food quality control ensures that consumers eat safe food. Quality control can be achieved by identifying, eliminating sources, and rectifying any defects in food commodities during the supply chain. Togola’s presentation highlighted the common problems with warehouse food storage are impurities, incorrect temperature, improper sanitation, insects, molds, rodents, lizards, water, and high humidity. He added that to achieve excellent preservation of grains, grain cleaning and drying, packaging, and good storage condition are very important.
IITA Host Plant Resistance Entomologist Dr Abou Togola highlighting pest management best practices.
Applying good management standard procedures during the entire cycle of commodity storage gives complete protection and avoids quantitative and qualitative losses. Thus, the immediate actors (store holders) need to be trained in managing commodities during storage in a sustainable way. This includes suitable identification of commodity deterioration factors and a good knowledge of the rules and principles of commodity management from receipt until delivery to the consumers.
The main topics covered were:
Grain sampling for physical assessment and mycotoxin assessment
Grain management while in storage
Identification of cleaning levels for grains
Pest management
Physical grain assessment practice, sampling method, and use of PICs bags
Olamide Deborah Nwanze is a Senior Research Associate specializing in gender mainstreaming research to inform participatory and inclusive breeding, variety development, and seed systems policies regarding root, tuber, and banana (RTB) crops in the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Headquarters, Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Ibadan and holds an MSc and B. Agric in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. Olamide is a fellow of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development – Gender Responsive Agricultural Systems Policy (AWARD-GRASP) and the Gender Responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT). She seeks to apply her gender-mainstreaming learnings, gender-responsive research, and policy development, and review expertise to facilitate women, youth, children, and vulnerable social group’s access to and adoption of agricultural Innovations that guarantee food, nutrition, income, and livelihood security in Africa. Her current roles include mentoring research fellows, development of guides and training manuals, implementation and adaptation of gender frameworks and tools, value chain actors’ engagement as citizen science partners, policy review and redesign, data management, and analysis. Her current research explores mixed methods and participatory and interdisciplinary approaches to capture and highlight gender dynamics, needs, preferences, and challenges stakeholders face within the agricultural livelihood value chain to prioritize gender-inclusive strategies in breeding programs, policy design, and implementation.
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