Short Communication
Comparative Evaluation of Underground Pit Storage Systems for Grain Quality Attributes in Jigjiga and Awubarre Districts of Fafen Zone, Ethiopia
Abraham Mulu1* and Zelalem Belayneh21Department of Dryland Crop Science, College of Dryland Agriculture, Jigjiga University, Ethiopia
- Corresponding Author:
- Abraham Mulu Oljira
Department of Dryland Crop Science
College of Dryland Agriculture
Jigjiga University, Ethiopia
Tel: +2517752779/+251923254861
E-mail: abrahammulu09@gmail.com
Received date: July 04, 2016; Accepted date: August 09, 2016; Published date: August 10, 2016
Citation: Mulu A, Belayneh Z (2016) Comparative Evaluation of Underground Pit Storage Systems for Grain Quality Attributes in Jigjiga and Awubarre Districts of Fafen Zone, Ethiopia. Adv Crop Sci Tech 4:235. doi:10.4172/2329-8863.1000235
Copyright: © 2016 Mulu A, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Sorghum and maize grain stored in traditionally prepared pit in Jigjiga and Awubarre districts of Ethiopian Somali region were evaluated for seven months after of underground storage. We collected data on socio-economic profile of survey participants, grain drying duration on the field, amount of grain stored and sold, and comparative evaluation of grain physical quality stored in bare traditional and plastic lined pit. We used semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and participants’ storage pit observation. Survey result indicated that 30% to 56% respondents dry harvested grain on the field from two weeks to one month. Majority of the respondents 57 rated ‘very good’ for grain stored in the plastic lined pit storage for quality attributes such as grain color, taste, odor, seed germination, and market preference, market price and for human health, however more than 34 respondents rated ‘bad’ for grain stored in bare traditional pit stored. This finding, thus, puts forward a need to use plastic lined pit storage so that the attributes are preferred by consumers.
