Animated Videos on Smartphones for Training Farmers to Improve Bean Storage: A Field Experiment in Gurúè, Mozambique

While a number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of hermetic storage of beans and cowpeas in sealed containers to reduce losses due to bruchids (weevils) and other insects (Baoua, Margam, Amadou & Murdock, 2012), adoption of this method has been slow in much of Africa. In some cases, this is due to a lack of triple bags, jerry cans, or other technologies that can prevent oxygen from passing through the material. However, in most cases it is due to lack of knowledge and training of farmers in how to use these methods. With the increase in diffusion of chemicals such a malathion dust, rat poison and aluminum phosphide, which can have both short and long-term negative impacts from eating, handling or inhaling the vapors, it is important that farmers understand that chemical-free methods can be safer and more effective.