Improving food security

Objectives To raise awareness of the extent of post-harvest losses due to pests and diseases To increase awareness of the benefits of maintaining genetic variability and traditional crop varieties To introduce the concept of grain banks To i... More >>

aim broad, long-term, important goal chutney spicy relish made from fruits, sugar, vinegar and spices co-ordinate to manage activities by working together with others curing to preserve meat or fish by smoking, drying or salting cyanide a ver... More >>

How many of the crops which you produce with so much hard work are lost to pests and diseases, either in the field or during storage?  What are the particular problems you face in storing food safely?  Discussion  One third ... More >>

Commercial seed producers want to persuade farmers that their new varieties will produce better and larger yields. Often they do; sometimes they do not. However, if new varieties of crops replace all the traditional varieties, this could result i... More >>

Simple improvements to local grain stores may help reduce the loss of grains to pests and diseases. Most areas have different requirements and different traditional storage methods. Here are some points to consider when building grain stores: R... More >>

When storing grains, they should be completely dry. Otherwise mould and disease can develop. A simple test is to check by biting on the grains. A very sharp cracking sound between the teeth is a sign that the seed is dry enough to be stored. We... More >>

The simple drier shown below will heat grain to temperatures high enough to kill most pests, including weevils, beetles and other insect pests, together with their eggs. Place a sheet of black plastic on top of an insulating mattress of dried gras... More >>

There are many different ways of controlling pests without buying expensive chemicals. Coating beans with a thin layer of edible oil before they are stored, is known to make it difficult for some insects to breathe. Unrefined cooking oils such as... More >>

All insects and other pests need to breathe oxygen to survive. Here is a simple tip which can remove oxygen from a storage container. This is only useful if grain is stored in airtight containers such as clay jars or underground pits. When the co... More >>

Many local plants can be used to protect harvested crops from pests. What plants have traditionally been used within your community? Many new introduced plants may also be useful to reduce pest damage. Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Cassia vine (Cas... More >>

Storing grain in sacks is useful if there are large quantities to store. If theft from outside granaries is common, sacks can be stored in a room with a lock. Sacks are best stored in rooms with concrete floors and walls. Sacks should never be st... More >>

After emptying a grain store or granary, immediately sweep it out very thoroughly. Make sure no grains at all remain from the previous year.                 Repair any cracks in the walls or holes in the roof or floor. Dust with lim... More >>

Grain banks can be used to store grain within a community, that can be available to people at fair prices during times of shortage. Usually grain prices are very low just after the harvest period, when most people have plenty of grain. Later in t... More >>

There must be a community decision to establish a grain bank. Outsiders should not make this decision. The community must own and control the grain bank itself. If a community feels that a grain bank will improve its food security, first it shoul... More >>

Successful grain banks need to obtain large amounts of good quality grain at harvest time. Make sure that stored grain is kept dry and free of pests. Grain must be stored in waterproof buildings which are secure from thieves. When local grain pri... More >>

Grains are a food source that can be preserved over many months. However there are other important foods that can be preserved for several months with care. These include yams, potatoes and cassava. These root crops cannot be dried out and need g... More >>

Tubers can also be stored in ‘clamps’. These are holes dug in the ground, lined with straw or leaves, filled with roots and then covered with more straw and earth or sand.   Clamps need to be checked regularly to make sure that any rotting roo... More >>

Root crops can also be stored by drying them. Peel and cut into small pieces and dry, preferably in a solar drier. Roots can first be stored in clamps and then dried whenever there is time available. Sometimes dried roots can be ground into flo... More >>

When drying food, particularly if it is to be sold, it is important to keep food as clean as possible. To preserve the colour, fruit pieces should be dipped into boiling water containing lemon juice and preservative, if available. Vegetable pieces sh... More >>

Drying is a good way of preserving fish that cannot be eaten or sold fresh. Larger fish should be split to remove the guts and large bones and then washed in fresh water before being dried. Fish should be dried on racks above the ground. A tent dri... More >>

Smoking is a traditional way of preserving fish. It cooks and dries the fish at the same time. There are many different types of smokers but each needs a source of smoke and somewhere to hang or place trays of fish in the smoke. Simple kilns can ... More >>

When fruit is plentiful, some of it is often wasted. All kinds of soft fruit can be used to make jam if plenty of sugar is available. Use ripe soft fruit, chopped into small pieces – for example guava, mango, cape gooseberries and strawberries all ... More >>

In some cultures, making pickles or chutneys is very common. In others it may be a new idea. It is a good way of preserving vegetables and can add flavour when they are eaten with staple foods. Chutney is a sweet, spicy preserve. Pickles are usuall... More >>

Another way of preventing fruit from being wasted is to make it into juice. Again, good hygiene is very important. Citrus fruits are very good and easy to make into juice. Other good sources are passion fruit, pomegranates and baobab fruit. In ... More >>

These Bible studies are designed to use in small groups. They may provide a useful introduction to a meeting where different topics from the Guide are being discussed. Choose a study that will be linked to the topic you plan to study or that is relev... More >>