TITLE:
Postharvest Adaptation Strategies to the Effects of Temperature Variations and Farmer-Miller Practices on the Physical Quality of Rice in Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Sali Atanga Ndindeng, Delphine Lamare Mapiemfu, Wilson Fantong, Valentine P. Nchinda, Zachée Ambang, John T. Manful
KEYWORDS:
Postharvest Loss, Thermal Amplitude, Temperature Variations, Climate Change, Practices, Grain Quality
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
25,
2014
ABSTRACT:
In order
to develop simple and adaptable measures to reduce the impact of changing climatic
conditions and poor postharvest practices on grain quality, data on temperature
and postharvest practices were collected and correlated with physical grain
quality parameters for 3 rice development hubs (Ndop, Lagdo and Mbam) in
Cameroon. Inter-annual variations in temperature and thermal amplitudes were the
highest in Ndop followed by Mbam and the least in Lagdo. When the same rice
variety was grown in the hubs and milled with a laboratory hand dehusker, the
mean chalky score was highest in Ndop (18%) and least in Mbam (11%). In
addition, Ndop recorded higher grain fissures and broken fractions compared to
Mbam or Lagdo. Positive correlations were observed between thermal amplitudes,
grain fissures and the proportion of broken fractions. However, rice milled
using commercial mills located in the hubs recorded the highest broken
fractions in Mbam (54% - 63%), followed by Lagdo (43% - 52%) and the least in
Ndop (35% - 38%). The type of mills in the hubs was responsible for these
differences as Mbam had only Engelberg types mills that recorded higher broken
fractions than in Ndop where only rubber roll mills were present (P