5.8 Improved Grain Storage
Case from DI Khan,
Pakistan
Statement:
Improved storage is important:
storage losses can be as high as 6-20%
Main reasons:
-Insects/ pests
-Seeds stored before complete drying
-Moisture storage conditions
Results of survey in DI Khan
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Almost all the stores affected by varying degree of infestation by insects
like Trogoderma sp, Sitotroga sp., Tribolium sp. and Zoophiles specie
Damages were 7 % at an average, where as in 10 % of the locality the
damages were recorded from 10 to 20 %.
At an average there were 5 % (by weight) foreign materials i.e. weed
seeds, clods and straw.
90% of the farmers used to store grain in rooms meant for multipurpose
(living room, straw store, house hold store, animal room): all these rooms
highly humid - making the management process difficult.
Mixed type of old receptacles i.e. polythene bags, gunny bags, Binda (large
polythene bag), bolarh (earthen bin), etc are using for years without
disinfesting.
Receptacles were not closed tightly to resist the insect access to grains.
No use of pesticides due to high cost, non-availability and difficulty in
application.
Some traditional practices reduce storage loss:
-use of brumba (wild melon) repells pests
-storage in straw (reduces humidity)
Experiments in DI Khan
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Use of small polythene bag (50 kg capacity) for
storage does not reduce storage loss, becuae
of thin coat.
Binda (large size bags with capacity of 2000
kg) placed on bricks or traditional plate form of
straw proved significantly better - reducing the
losses to 0.25 %.
Fumigation of grains in the same Binda (once
in July) gave best results.
Binda cost (Rs 550, USD 10) is obstacle
however
IF properly managed, proper resealing after
examining or drawing of grains each time can
also reduce loss to almost nil.
Innovations
1.
Improved earthen storage with standard length,
width and height of the structure at 5, 3 and 4 feet,
respectively, with the capacity of accommodating
1200 kg of grains
2.
In case of Binda: Add the use of plastic sheet to seal
the mouth of Binda
Results of innovations
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Grain losses reduced to 0.3%
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Receptacles (both earthen structure and Binda) properly
sealed and managed survived the incidence of insects
without fumigation
Infested grains fumigated and properly resealed
survived the re-infestation of insects
Discussion: scope for improvement in
grain storage in Ethiopia?
Based on work of VEER/ PLI, DI Khan, Pakistan