Production of Clay Containers for Curbing Plantain Post-Harvest Losses in Ghana

In Ghana, most farmers are peasants and at times foodstuffs produced get rotten either through transportation or market places. This normally affects the meager income that farmers earn through hard work. Available statistics indicate that each year, food crops worth several hundreds of dollars go waste in the country due to poor harvest losses and it represents 70% of total food production in Ghana. Again, in the country, there is abundant of clay as a natural resource. Geological study has revealed that it is found in almost every part of the country. As a means of finding solution to the rate at which local foodstuffs especially plantain rot, the study sought to design and compose clay container purposefully for storing plantain to prolong its lifespan. The study focused on 5 clay body compositions (C₁ to C₅) and fired at 950°C. Composition C_1？consisted of 50% of Abonko clay and 50% of Daboase clay. Composition C₂ was made up of 40% Abonko clay, 50% Daboase clay and 10% of smooth sawdust. Composition C₃ composed of 45% of Abonko clay, 45% of Daboase clay and 10% of smooth sawdust. Composition C₄ was made up of 90% Daboase clay and 10% rough sawdust. The last composition C₅ comprised mainly 100% Abonko clay. Fresh