Nyo Me Htwe1,2, Grant R Singleton1,3, Pyai Phyo Maw2,4. 1. Crop and Environmental Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, Metro Manila, Philippines. 2. Plant Protection Division, Myanma Agriculture Service, Yangon, Myanmar. 3. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Marine, Kent, UK. 4. Entomology Department, Yezin Agriculture University, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We undertook studies on post-harvest losses by rodents in two townships in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar. Farmers harvest their monsoon rice crop and then stack it on levee banks to await threshing 4-6 weeks later. After threshing and drying, paddy rice is stored in granaries. The amount of grain stored in burrows was collected 4 weeks after harvest by excavating burrows. In grain stores, we quantified the weight of grain consumed by rodents for 3-6 months post-harvest. RESULTS: The dominant species in the field were Bandicota bengalensis and B. indica, whereas in grain stores the dominant species were Rattus rattus and R. exulans. The mean grain stored by rodents in burrows was 1.49 ± 0.9 kg burrow-1 in 2013 and 1.41 ± 0.7 kg burrow-1 in 2014. The mean loss of grain in granaries was higher in Daik U (14% in 2013, 4% in 2014) than in Maubin (8.2% in 2013, 1.2% in 2014). The total amount of grain lost to rodents during piling and storing could feed households for 1.6-4 months. CONCLUSION: Post-harvest losses of grain is a significant food security issue for smallholder farmers in Myanmar. Community rodent management and better rodent-proofing of granaries are recommended to reduce losses caused by rodents.
BACKGROUND: We undertook studies on post-harvest losses by rodents in two townships in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar. Farmers harvest their monsoon rice crop and then stack it on levee banks to await threshing 4-6 weeks later. After threshing and drying, paddy rice is stored in granaries. The amount of grain stored in burrows was collected 4 weeks after harvest by excavating burrows. In grain stores, we quantified the weight of grain consumed by rodents for 3-6 months post-harvest. RESULTS: The dominant species in the field were Bandicota bengalensis and B. indica, whereas in grain stores the dominant species were Rattus rattus and R. exulans. The mean grain stored by rodents in burrows was 1.49 ± 0.9 kg burrow-1 in 2013 and 1.41 ± 0.7 kg burrow-1 in 2014. The mean loss of grain in granaries was higher in Daik U (14% in 2013, 4% in 2014) than in Maubin (8.2% in 2013, 1.2% in 2014). The total amount of grain lost to rodents during piling and storing could feed households for 1.6-4 months. CONCLUSION: Post-harvest losses of grain is a significant food security issue for smallholder farmers in Myanmar. Community rodent management and better rodent-proofing of granaries are recommended to reduce losses caused by rodents.
Authors: Lourens H Swanepoel; Corrie M Swanepoel; Peter R Brown; Seth J Eiseb; Steven M Goodman; Mark Keith; Frikkie Kirsten; Herwig Leirs; Themb'alilahlwa A M Mahlaba; Rhodes H Makundi; Phanuel Malebane; Emil F von Maltitz; Apia W Massawe; Ara Monadjem; Loth S Mulungu; Grant R Singleton; Peter J Taylor; Voahangy Soarimalala; Steven R Belmain Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-03-30 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Martin Gummert; Christopher Cabardo; Reianne Quilloy; Yan Lin Aung; Aung Myo Thant; Myo Aung Kyaw; Romeo Labios; Nyo Me Htwe; Grant R Singleton Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-11-13 Impact factor: 4.379