INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, FEBRUARY 2013 ISSN 2277-8616 181 IJSTR©2013 www.ijstr.org Storage Systems For Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranean) And Their Implications For Bruchid Pest Management In Talensi-Nabdam District, Upper East Region, Ghana. Ayamdoo A. J., Demuyakor B., Badii K.B., Sowley E.N.K Abstract: - Bamabara groundnut, Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc, is an important grain legume that plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture, food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. In northern Ghana one major constraint to the save preservation of bambara groundnut seeds after harvest is infestation by bruchid insects. A survey was conducted to obtain information on the existing storage systems and their implications for bruchid pest management in the Talensi-Nabdam district of Upper East region of Ghana. Six farming communities and five marketing centers were surveyed between January and March, 2012 by administering structured and semi structured questionnaires to respondents drawn by purposive sampling method. The study revealed that the major storage pests infesting bambara groundnuts in the surveyed areas were insects of the bruchid group which were dominated by three species of Callosobruhus and one species of Zabrotes. Storage structures used by farmers and traders included earthenware pots, gourds, mud silos, jute sacks, metal drums and plastic containers but jute sacks and clay pots were rampant in terms of use. Though not all the structures are effective many were used owing to their hermetic conditions against the pests, coupled with their durability, economic and ease of integration with indigenous grain protectants such as admixture with vegetable oils, fine ash and extracts from a local plant scientifically known as Hyptis spicigera. The extract from Hyptis spicigera was more (50 %) in use to preserve Bambara groundnuts because its work better in warding off the bruchid pest. The rampant postharvest losses to bambara groundnut grains in the area could be minimized if these existing storage structures and grain preservation techniques were improved. Index Terms: - Bambara groundnuts, bruchids, Ghana, storage systems, Talensi-Nabdam. ———————————————————— 1 INTRODUCTION Bambara groundnut, Vigna subterranea (L) Verdcourt, is an indigenous African legume grown primarily for it seeds (Swanevelder, 1998). It is one of the major grain legumes consumed in Ghana: ranking third to cowpea and groundnut (Sellschop, 1962). In the northern sector of Ghana, bambara groundnut has become a food security crop, being a cheap source of proteins and carbohydrates in the diets of many rural and urban households (Anchirinah et al., 2001). The seeds are highly nutritious and contain more lysine and methionine than either cowpea or groundnuts (Ezedinma and Maneke, 1985). Dried seeds are boiled and eaten, or the cooked seeds mixed with cassava, maize or rice and consumed. The seeds may also be ground into floor and used to enrich several traditional preparations (Brink and Belay, 2006). Berchie et al. (2010) reported that the demand for bambara groundnut in Sub- Saharan Africa exceeds the present supply. Seed yield in Africa average 650-850 kg/ha with significant variations among countries (Stanton et al., 1966; Ayayi and Lale, 2001). A major constraint to the increased and sustainable production of bambara groundnut in Ghana is the high grain losses incurred during storage of the harvested grains. In the Talensi- Nabdan District of the Upper East Region, in particular, the grains are the most susceptible to insect infestation and destruction. The destruction may start from the field, but serious insect damage occurs during storage (Amuti and Larbi, 1981; Warui, 1984; FAO, 1985; Golob et al., 1996). Average grain losses of about 10% per month are common (Golob et al., 1996). According to Obeng-Ofori and Danquah (2004), bruchid beetles are the major storage insect pests of bambara groundnuts. Grain damage and losses (both quantitative and qualitative) are usually caused by larvae which develop within the grain, consuming the seed and rendering it unsalable or inconsumable (Haines, 1991; Allotey and Oyewo, 1993). Previous survey in northern Ghana revealed that average weight losses in bambara groundnut during on-farm storage are of significant proportions and the damage incurred is of serious concern as damaged beans command much reduced market prices (Golob et al., 1996; Golop et al., 1998). Grain deterioration in bambara groundnuts is not only a problem faced by producers. Traders (sellers) as well, because all levels within the grain value chain, suffer storage losses as a result of bruchid pest infestations. This has also become a major problem for food aid agencies such as the school feeding programme and World Food Programme operating in the district. The economic importance of bambara groundnut in Ghana dictates that promoting its cultivation would be enhanced if effective storage systems and more sustainable grain treatment or preservation methods are developed. This would help increase incomes of producers and traders and ensure food security, particularly among the rural poor. This present survey seeks to obtain baseline information on the existing storage systems for bambara groundnut grains, and the extend to which these systems aid ______________________________ Ayamdoo A J Post-graduate Student,Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, UDS, Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana Emails: jayamdooabugre@yahoo.com Demuyakor B Lecturer Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, UDS, Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana Email; Bawainghana2@yahoo.co.jp Badii K.B Lecturer, Department of Agronomy,Faculty of Agriculture, UDS, Box TL 1882,Tamale,Ghana Email: benbadii@yahoo.com Sowley ENK Senior Lecturer, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, UDS, Box TL 1882,Tamale, Ghana. Email: esowley@gmail.com