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On-farm post-harvest physical grain losses of “<i>Kaiso</i>” rice variety in Eastern Uganda
Abstract
Rice, Oryza sativa is one of the major crops through which people in eastern Uganda particularly Butaleja district earn their livelihoods. Kaiso is the main swamp rice variety grown and marketed in the region. The smallholder farmers who are the majority use rudimentary technologies to undertake post-harvest operations. Technocrats and policy makers have observed and noted with concern that high physical grain losses are occurring along the various post-harvest operations. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to generate post-harvest physical grain losses of rice during harvesting, threshing, drying and cleaning at farms of smallholder farmers in Doho rice irrigation scheme. Methodology involved experiments using quadrants and social interviews based on participatory research techniques. A total of 48 farmers and 5 extensions officers were involved in the various parts of the study. The results showed that highest grain losses occur during harvesting and threshing and the average quantities were 6.7% (285.1 kg ha-1 of paddy) and 4.7% (183 kg ha-1 of paddy). The total average physical grain loss during harvesting, threshing, drying and cleaning was 13.5% (578.8 kg ha-1 of paddy). The results generated correlate well with similar findings in the Asian countries reported by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
Keywords: Eeastern Uganda, grain losses, physical, post-harvest, rice
