*3.1. Grain Quality of Maize Samples*

Grain quality traits employed in domestic transaction tend to imitate the grading categories stipulated by Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). Prominent quality parameters such as visual appearance, moisture content, grain color, dryness and cleanness are mostly paid attention to by stakeholders along the maize supply chain. The fraction of insectdamaged grains and organic and inorganic material are also considered by producers, aggregators, retailers and processors as the main maize grain quality parameters with reference to the Ghana Standards Authority criteria. Grain quality is also a function of the wholesomeness of grains as verified by several examinations from visual appearance to complex laboratory analysis. The quality standards for grain are country-specific, as different countries have different grades and standards to facilitate marketing and commercial values of produce [10].

Moisture content of maize is normally beyond 18% at harvest, and further reduction to 13% (ideal for storage) is achieved through drying [11]. Maize samples stored in hermetic and polypropylene bags for a period of one year from the three study locations recorded moisture content in the range of 10.9–12.1% and 13.8–14.9%, respectively. The moisture contents of maize stored in polypropylene bags were above the GSA specification (≤13%), whereas those of hermetic storage were within the acceptable range.

All the maize grains sampled from the polypropylene and hermetic bags recorded low concentrations of organic and inorganic matter, stained, germinated and other grains (Figure 1). Maize grains sampled from the hermetic bags had lower defects in the grain quality attributes. The presence of other grains and organic and inorganic matter in a bag of maize informs the quality (purity) and level of adulteration. For this study both polypropylene and hermetic bags recorded low amounts of other grains (0.78 and 0.75%), inorganic matter (2.17 and 1.31%), organic matter (5.27 and 3.19%) and shriveled grains (3.52% and 1.45%), respectively. The differences were not significantly different (*p* < 0.05), implying equivalent levels of defects. However, the percentages of diseased grains in the polypropylene bags (1.54%) were significantly (*p* < 0.05) higher than those in the hermetic bags (0.04%). Similar observations of significant difference (*p* < 0.05) were recorded for polypropylene and hermetic bags for discolored maize grains (3.70% and 0.79%), broken/chipped maize (7.85% and 6.04%), insect-damaged grains (9.75% and 1.96%) and total defective grains (30.49% and 9.58%), respectively.

**Figure 1.** Percentage defects in grains stored in hermetic and PP bags. Means within the graph followed by the same letter are not significantly different at *p* < 0.05 (ANOVA: *t*-test).
