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The Future of Smallholder Farming in Eastern Africa - Uganda ...

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ased on seed color (white, mixed, and red), seed purity, damage to the seed, and perhaps<br />

season <strong>of</strong> harvest. Price differences between the different orig<strong>in</strong>s and grades, as shown <strong>in</strong><br />

section 5, are significant. <strong>The</strong> price <strong>of</strong> the highest grade <strong>of</strong> teff, for <strong>in</strong>stance, can be 1.6 times<br />

the lowest grade (see section 5). Deal<strong>in</strong>g with 11 different subjective grades <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> teff<br />

alone on any market day is a huge task for brokers at the central market. It should be added<br />

that brokers and traders make a dist<strong>in</strong>ction between other orig<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> teff (e.g., Becho,<br />

Ancheni, Gooder, Arbam<strong>in</strong>ch, and Kella), further complicat<strong>in</strong>g the task <strong>of</strong> grad<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

standardization.<br />

Grade types are relatively simple <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> wheat and maize. For <strong>in</strong>stance, wheat types<br />

are decided based on three varieties (Israel, local [abesha], and white), and two grades (first<br />

and second) are identified <strong>in</strong> each case. Only three color-based grades (white, mixed, and<br />

black) are commonly identified for wheat, however. <strong>The</strong> orig<strong>in</strong> (e.g., Gojjam, Wellega,<br />

Illubabor) and color (red and white) are considered <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> maize. It is also common to<br />

f<strong>in</strong>d only two color-based maize grades (white and mixed) at the central market.<br />

Table 2.21: Factors considered <strong>in</strong> grad<strong>in</strong>g gra<strong>in</strong>s<br />

Factor Yes No<br />

Orig<strong>in</strong> 66 (98.5%) 1 (1.5%)<br />

Seed purity 59 (88.1%) 8 (11.9%)<br />

Seed color 62 (92.5%) 5 (7.5%)<br />

Extent <strong>of</strong><br />

17 (25.4%) 50 (74.6%)<br />

germ<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

Moisture 34 (50.7%) 33 (49.3%)<br />

Weevil 60 (89.6%) 7 (10.4%)<br />

Season <strong>of</strong> harvest 53 (79.1%) 14 (10.9%)<br />

Source: Survey, 2002.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is no easy way <strong>of</strong> establish<strong>in</strong>g the orig<strong>in</strong> and other attributes <strong>of</strong> gra<strong>in</strong>. <strong>The</strong> orig<strong>in</strong> is<br />

largely left to claims by regional traders, while grades are usually determ<strong>in</strong>ed through visual<br />

<strong>in</strong>spection and <strong>in</strong>formation supplied by regional traders (Table 2.22). Each sack or a sample<br />

<strong>of</strong> the total sacks (each weigh<strong>in</strong>g 100 kilograms) must be <strong>in</strong>spected with simple hook (to take<br />

a small sample <strong>of</strong> gra<strong>in</strong>) or unbagged to establish quality and grade. Brokers do not use<br />

modern <strong>in</strong>struments ma<strong>in</strong>ly because <strong>of</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> awareness and know-how <strong>in</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g grad<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>struments.

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