Post-Harvest Management: A Case Of Cereal Crops In Siha District, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

Management of post harvested cereals is a proactive approach intended to solve a problem of post harvested looses. This is an intervention is place to ensure the situation does not happen again or if it happens a process is defined on how it should be handled. These losses occur between the completion of harvest and the moment of consumption. This study aim at examining the management ways of post harvested crops, used by the households in Siha District in Kilimanjaro Region. In that, the study focuses on the technologies and methods used for handling and managing the cereals during the harvesting period. These methods will be examined as to how they help the farmers to manage their harvests. Apart from that, the study discusses the contribution technologies used for post harvested crops and its importance to make food security to households in Siha District. Here, the advantages are pointed out to examine its contribution to managing cereal crops. Also, the technologies used by farmers are explained and to how long and how much they help to make food sustainable for future use. Moreover, the challenges are explained by household farmers, where, despite the contribution of management ways, the farmers face obstacles during the process. These obstacles have to be tackled to individual farmers, government and other stakeholders to ensure that post harvested cereal crops are completely managed. The research study had a sample of 100 respondents coming from 5 wards of Siha District. These wards are Sanya Juu, Biriri, Ivaeny, Livishi and Nasai. In each ward 20 respondents were selected using sampling procedures. These respondents were individual farmers.