Armazenamento Tradicional na Guiné-Bissau

Abstract

Traditional Storage in Guinea Bissau is closely linked to food security of its rural population. Storage occurs nearly exclusively on the compound or family level and is subject to complex relationships between family members. Crop protection and storage are highly ritualised domains as they are closely linked to the survival of the families. Any interventions intended to improve or change storage systems, in order to reduce post-harvest losses, which for many crops are very high, therefore have to deal with the internal power structures as well as with the spiritual dimension associated with this basic human activity. A profound knowledge of current practices is therefore of the essence. Traditional storage systems show a clearly ethnic configuration. This report presents the first five results of a study on 11 ethnic storage systems, namely: Mandinga, Beafada, Nalú, Fula de Quebo and Balanta. It details for each crop cultivated the seeds, the harvest methods, the storage system, including receptacles, containers and magazines, (with drawings) and the major threats facing different crops in each stage.