Farmer knowledge and management of rodent and insect pests in stored grain: Evidence from smallholder systems in Nangoma Agricultural Camp, Mumbwa District, Zambia

Post-harvest grain losses caused by rodents and insect pests continue to threaten food security among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. This cross-sectional quantitative study assessed farmers' knowledge, perceptions, and management practices of storage pests in maize and groundnuts at Nangoma Agricultural Camp, Mumbwa District, Zambia (n = 119). Education level and age were statistically significantly associated with grain loss (p < 0.05). Nearly all farmers (99.2%) stored crops post-harvest; 89% used untreated bags and 97% applied chemical treatments, primarily Shumba dust (38.7%) and Chilinda matura dust (31.1%), sourced mainly from private suppliers. Pest damage was reported by 88.2% of farmers, with rats (46.2%) and weevils (42.0%) as the dominant pests, and most respondents estimated losses of 0–25% of harvest. Farmers perceived legumes, particularly soya beans and cowpeas, as more susceptible to rodent attack than maize or groundnuts. No significant demographic associations were found with choice of storage structure (p > 0.05). The findings highlight the persistence of storage losses despite widespread chemical use, and underscore the need for integrated pest management training, adoption of hermetic and rodent-proof storage technologies, and improved access to certified pest-control inputs to reduce post-harvest losses in Zambia.