Indigenous Techniques of Grain Storage: The Dawanau Grain Market Experience

Abstract

The paper attempts to document and assess the indigenous techniques of storing grains in one of the largest West African Grain Market; the Dawanau market in Kano metropolis. The methods used include: Field inventory; Focus Group Discussion (FGD); In-depth interviews; and Entomological identification of specimen. The result shows that indigenous techniques are vehemently used in storing grains as against the conventional modern techniques. These include: indigenous biological pest control (Gwargwadoma); herbs (wild sorrel); hot-pepper; and air-tired containers (drums). The use of Gwargwadoma appeared to be the most dominant and common method of large scale grain storage. The Gwargwadoma insects are now being raised and sold out as a commodity. It is therefore recommended that the technique of Gwargwadoma usage should be improved and the biological properties of the Gwargwadoma insects should be fully researched.

Keywords: Indigenous; Grain; Storage; Techniques