Page 38 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

stalks and collected for drying. In large-scale production, combine harvesters are
used to simplify the work (refer to Figure 2.12 (b)). Shelling is an essential step
in separating maize from cob before storage, milling, or selling. Shelling can be
done using manual methods, mechanical shellers or automated shelling machines
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Figure 2.12 (a): Stooked maize stalks in Figure 2.12 (b): Combine-harvester
a field harvesting maize in a field

Other postharvest practices in maize production include cleaning, grading and
sorting, drying, packaging and storage, and processing.

Cleaning, grading and sorting: Maize cobs should be threshed to get grains,
which are then winnowed and cleaned to remove dirt, chaff and damaged grains.
Cleaned and sorted grains are now ready for storage.
Drying, packaging and storage: The grains should be dried to a moisture
content of 12 - 13% before storage. Proper storage is important to prevent pest
infestations, mould growth, and aflatoxin contamination. Storage methods may
include the use of well-sealed metal and plastic containers, air-tight storage bags
such as PICS, traditional granaries and silos. Grains can also be treated with
appropriate storage pesticides.

Processing: Processing is important to add value to the crop. Processing practices
include milling maize grain into flour for human consumption and feed for
animals. Value addition can lead to products such as biofuels (Ethanol), popcorn
and cornflakes.

Marketing of maize
The success of maize marketing depends on factors like grain quality, seasonal
demand, and access to reliable market information. Value-added products can
greatly increase market price and thus improve farmer incomes. However,
challenges like postharvest losses, fluctuating prices, poor infrastructure, and the

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