Premature/early harvesting: This results in shriveled and rotten maize.
Throwing cobs on the bare ground and use of dirty containers during harvesting. This increases the risks of aflatoxin and other contaminants.
Late harvesting; this leads to attack of pests, loss of grain and rotting.
Quality control measures
– Harvest grains when they are physiologically mature
– Harvest maize on time
– Use clean containers/bags to collect the cobs during harvesting
– Collect the cobs in the garden on a tarpaulin or mat.
