Household level paddy storage and insect infestation of paddy, maize and mungbean in Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The augmented losses occur during the storage of grains but details on such information is minimum under Sri Lankan conditions. Unawareness of relevant and updated information on these losses prevents the adoption of appropriate remedial measures for the protection of these stored grains. Therefore, the current study was conducted in Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka to determine the types of household-level storage structures/places used, grain losses occurred in those structures/places and nature of insect infestation of stored paddy, maize and mungbean. A questionnaire survey was conducted throughout Anuradhapura district using farmer families. Four main structures/places used in grain storage in different divisional secretariats were identified. The storage structures/places used from the highest to lowest frequency were room inside house, kitchen, room outside the house and temporary hut. Sitophilus oryzae was the most abundant stored pest followed by Sitotroga cerealella, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica. The structures/places of grain storage and abundance of insect species were different among divisional secretariats. This study discloses the structures/places of grain storage, their frequency of use as well as the main insect species responsible for grain losses in the Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka.