POST HARVEST ON CORN
Requirements during the
Harvesting Process
• Harvest corn as soon as it is dry.
• Dry corn on cement floor or use tarpaulin to reduce chance of contamination.
Time to harvest
Harvesting
Harvest the corn cobs and transport them to
the crip without putting them on soil to avoid
contamination.
Corn can store for a considerable period in unprocessed form without undergoing deterioration.
Its shelf life greatly depends on the prevailing ambient temperature and relative humidity, and other factors like the inherent moisture pests and diseases.
DRYING is the systematic reduction
of crop moisture down to safe levels for
storage, usually 12%-15.5% moisture content.
Activities after Harvesting
After harvesting, farmers should clean all the materials
used in the process of harvesting and store them
properly, away from sources of contamination and insect breeding places.
After harvesting, the grain must be dried as soon as
possible . Avoid drying the maize on the ground. Grain that is
in contact with the ground will
absorb moisture and
pick up dirt and insects. Drying maize on plastic s
heets or mats is becoming a
common practice
with
farmers who are trying to keep maize off the ground
during drying. This practice is discouraged becaus
e
of the following reasons:
•
Someone should watch the grain while it dries.
•
At night or when it rains, the grain must be broug
ht under shelter.
•
Grain can be washed away in case of a sudden down
pour.
•
Risk of contamination from dusts, soil, stones, an
imal droppings, fungal and insect infestation.
•
Losses from birds, poultry and domestic animals, r
esulting into contamination and quantitative
losses.
•
The method is time consuming and labour intensive
involving lots of grain handling.