Code No: TMS090 Price: 1400 Category: Storage
Title : Technologies to minimise grain storage loss
The objectives & scope of Techno-Market-Survey on Grain Storage Losses have been outlined. Difficulties & problems in the way of increasing food grains availability, problems & prospects of grain storage, causes of storage losses and their estimation organizations which store food grains at national level, loss reduction technologies; rodent control techniques; storage structures for bag and bulk storage have been briefly described.
Assessment and various technological options, economics of different storage structures, cost benefit ration of improved storage metal bins, measures to reduce grain storage losses in large scale and small scale (Farm level) storage; new approaches such as the use of inert gases-CO2 and Nitrogen; new technique of using phosphine gas; use of vaccum technology in Butyl Rubber “Silos” to be prepared at storage site and action plan for implementation of recommended technological options have been briefly described as also the expected impact of recommendations. Back
Scope and Objective of the Study
SIGNIFICANCE OF GRAIN STORAGE LOSSES
This Study on the Techno-Market Survey of Grain Storage Losses in India was undertaken for an on behalf of the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India by M/s Santek Consultants Pvt. Ltd. the Study was mainly carried out with the following objectives and scope of work:
- To delineate the extent of relationship and the importance of Grain Storage Losses in the overall agricultural economy of the country
- To identify and assess the various technological options available globally and in India to address the problems of Grain Storage Losses,
- To make socio-economic feasibility analysis of the preferred options and their possible spin-offs,
- To make recommendations on the action plans needed to mount the development activities so as to mitigate the inadequacies suffered by the community, and
- To make assessment of the monetary, human, capital goods and raw material needs for implementing the recommendations, arising from the study.
In short the report was to clearly bring out the following:
- Relationship and the importance of Grain Storage Losses to Agriculture.
- The Current status of the technological developments pertaining to grain Storage Losses in the world and in the Country. Importance and its potential.
- Assessment of the various technological options which can be adopted for Grain Storage Losses and assessment of the requirement of the various resource parameters such as energy, raw material, infrastructure and manpower, etc. to arrive the preferred technology options available to the country.
- Short term & long term economic aspects of preferred options along with their feasibilities.
- Impact of the preferred option(s) by itself and its spin-offs.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- For implementation of preferred technology option(s) indicating critical inputs required for successful implementation of these technologies and assessment of the requirement of various raw material, capital goods and humans resources their availability and investments required to commercilise, and benefits/ returns expected. Maximum possible quantification is required.
- For R&D/technology development indicating the requirement of inputs and expected benefits.
- Action Plan for implementation of recommendations along with identification of:
- List of available technologies for minimizing Grain Storage Losses and
- The agencies/groups/individuals for implementation.
- Expected impact of recommendations, if implemented.
The report consists of six more chapters apart from this Executive Summary chapter. These chapter are discussed in brief in the succeeding paragraphs. Back
SIGNIFICANCE OF GRAIN STORAGE LOSSES
It is well known that the process of improving total food production is slow and costly. Therefore, the first & the foremost step to increase the effective food grain production is to protect and preserve by effective pest management and scientific warehousing, what has been grown & harvested for human consumption and by improving local processing methods to retain inherent natural nutritional value of produce. Therefore, what has been reaped must be protected & then the future bigger harvests need to ensured by higher productivity & larger crop areas. The whole nation should be made to realize that ‘a grain saved is a grain produced’. Therefore the grain saved from the ravages of insects, rodents, fungi, etc., are called a “hidden harvest”. Every year the country can save more than three years of Production inputs, if present losses of 10% are minimized by improving Grain Stock. Technology and practices at farm level. This concept has very high eco-friendly approach also.
The unique problems of storage at the farm level are:
- The most important factor that affects the rate of deterioration of stored food is the climate. In the tropics where we are situated, the year round high temperature and high humidity allow pests such as rats and insects to feed and multiply throughout the year. Whereas the cold weather of the temperate climate reduces multiplication/reproduction and feeding of these pests. In very cold climate the low temperature itself kills most of the stored grain pests;
- Over and above that, we do not have sufficient number of trained personnel in the discipline of food preservation and maintenance of quality;
- Where 70-80% of the food grains produced in the country are stored at innumerable storage points spread over 0.6 million villages, by the farmers who are unaware about the improved storage methods and have insufficient capital even to provide for the necessary scientific handing and improved storage bins.
- And above all they have pessimistic attitude & believe that nothing can be done to prevent losses suffered fro stored food grains because insects appear on the grain naturally.
Prevention of these losses would result in:
More food for consumption by the farmers and public as a whole; more food available for farmers to sell; higher earnings & good living standards of farmers; more wholesome food available for non farming population; better quality and competitiveness of export commodities in world trade; and sound economy for the country and improvement of its international standing, and it shall become permanent exporter of food grains.
Further, the comparison of the post harvest losses, storage losses and the import of food grain for the years 1960-82 substantiate the above facts. (Refer Exhibit No. 2.3).
METHODOLOGY
As proposed in the proposal and the approach paper submitted for this study, the methodology adopted in completing the study was to collect the data mainly through the secondary sources. Attempt was made to collect some information from primary sources also. Te same has been discussed as below:
Scrutiny of Existing Sources
Effort was made to scrutinize as much as possible the details available from the several state and government institutions, departments, agencies which had compiled and published reports, articles on Grain Storage Losses.
Further, a large number of books, reports, journals, periodicals on this subject and other related areas were perused.
Thus the secondary information was mostly collected by desk research using the following sources
i) Periodicals
ii) Journals
iii) Publications
iv) Research institutions
v) Universities
vi) Experts
vii) Projects, etc.
Some of the Periodicals, Journals, Publications which were referred to or correspondence that was dome with, during the course of the study were amongst the list as shown n Annexure-I.
Some of the Institutes and Organizations which were contacted for this study are shown in the List in Annexure – II. Back
We had corresponded with a large number of scientists and experts in this field seeking related information on this subject (An indicative List of such Experts and Scientists is given in Annexure-III). An attempt was made to meet some of them also. Some of the other organizations which are involved in the Grain Storage in other countries and with whom correspondence was made, are as listed in the Annexure-IV.
Further the following criteria for evaluation of technological options available in India for Grain Storage Losses and also for the action plant have more or less followed:
- Enlisting the major and important technologies which have been developed so far.
- Identifying the various critical parameters in these technologies.
- Identifying the benefits of these technologies.
- Identifying the drawbacks of these technologies,
- Comparison of some of the inputs in select technologies.
- Identifying the constraints in implementation of some of these technologies.
LIMITATIONS
The major limitation in this study was that although there is a lot of data available in the country and a lot has been talked about in this subject but most of it is based on primary data which was collected a couple of decades ago. There is no recent study commissioned exclusively for the collection of the primary data pertaining to the Grain Storage Losses in the country and such an extensive study is beyond the scope of this current study. Hence there is an imperative need to commission a study on the National Level for estimation of the various types of losses at different stages of the Grain Storage and the causes thereof.
Further most of he technologies which have been in use abroad are not really applicable or cannot be used in India as these technologies are suited for a particular environment and climatic situation and the same may not prevail in India. Further the economic conditions of the two countries may not be same hence those technologies which may be good in other counties with similar conditions cannot be used commonly in India as they may be prohibitively expensive / costly.
MAJOR OBSERVATIONS /FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS THEREOF
In our country the efforts were made to estimate the post-harvest losses. During the 1966 the Department of Food appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. V G Panse. The terms of Reference of this Committee were as under:-
1. To examine comprehensively all available data and assess the nature and extent of losses during the post-harvest handling at various stages of food grains in the country.
2. To pin-point the factors which at each stage of handling account for these losses, and
3. To consider and recommend the measures which can and should be adopted to minimize these losses.
The committee examined various viewpoints put up to it by various agencies and submitted an interim report in the year 1967. the findings and recommendations given in the interim report are as under:-
The estimates of storage losses put forwards by the grain storage committee appointed by Govt. of India in 1964-65 estimated that the average losses over the three years i.e. 1962-63, 1963-64 and 1964-65 are of the order of 9.33% of the production. The losses comprised of threshing (1.68%), transport (0.15%), processing (0.92%) and storage (6.58%) (Refer Exhibit No. 24 also).
GRAIN STORAGE LOSSES HAVE TO BE MINIMIZED: HOW?
The basis of all strategies for reduction of grain storage losses is the manipulation of environmental, factors-biological and physical (temperature and moisture) – which annihilate pests or promote an environment that is inimical to their survival and multiplication. Moisture content can be cited as the single greatest factor of grain loss throughout the world. This cannot be over-emphasized more in India where national grain storing agencies receive large volume of grain with very high moisture content.
Many of these strategies are simply a refinement of well established grain storage principle & practice, a factor that has been often overlooked. Scientific principles are universally transferable. Many technologies may not be appropriate, for example, technology for drying grain that works in a temperate climate may be totally unsuitable for drying paddy crop that is harvested at 28-30% MC in humid tropics.
1. Sealed or hermetic storage
2. Storage of grain in plastic enclosures
3. Smaller flexible “bag” silos made of butyl rubber or PVC or smaller heavy gauge polythene sacks say 50kg to 100 kg.
4. Indoor metal bins of 1 quintal to 1 ton capacities have displayed great potential for use as airtight containers.
5. Semi-underground bins developed in Cyprus & Kenya have been used for long term storage up to three years with excellent results.
6. Air-tight underground storage (AUS) in Argentina have been used for 2-3 years with loss amounting to 0.5% only.
7. Temporary or transit sealed storage
8. Outdoor temporary storage
9. Externally modified/controlled atmosphere storage
10. Using improved methods of application of Grain protectant systems
11. New flow-through phosphine fumigation technology.
12. Biological control
13. Vacuum storage
14. Integrated Pest Management
15. Rural Disinfestation
a) Pre-harvest prophylaxis by-
i) Spraying of malathion formulation on grains or pods.
ii) Bacterial insecticides on paddy and vegetables.
b) Rodent control in the field.
c) Insect proofing of gunny bags.
d) Insect-proofing of structures.
e) Rodent control techniques for dwellings
i) Repellent spray
ii) Baiting with attractants
iii) Fumigation of burrows with Aluminium Phosphide Tables
f) Sot fumigation with ethylene dibromide ampoules.
g) Mixing of activated kaolin with pulses and other legumes (Small parcels).
h) Nutritional grain protectant on rice, wheat, protective foods, processed cereal foods, breakfast food, etc.
In chapters IV, V, VI of this report it has been mentioned that temperature, moisture, free water, insects, mites, fungi bacteria, rodents, chemical factors, structural defects wherein grains are stored, and above all men themselves are the factors leading to avoidable huge losses during storage. How we should go about in dealing with the situation to minimize the avoidable storage losses, has been described as follows: Back
Temperature & moisture are the main factors which speed up most chemical reactions (increase with increasing temperature) particularly if some quantity of moisture is there. The food grains which contain moisture of other biological materials keep better under refrigeration (low temperature) than at high temperatures. Thus rain & its products at moisture levels unsafe for storage in summer may be stored as temperatures prevailing in winters.
Moisture is by far the most important factor to bring about deterioration of grains in storage. If the grain moisture content is maintained at low level, say 9-10 % clean grain can be stored for may years.
In summary it is recommended that:
1. Store only that grain which is clean devoid of dirt-dust foreign matter, broken grains and with not more that 11% of moisture.
2. Store only in weather – tight hermatic steel bins as designed by Indian Grain Storage Institute, Hapur and other bins which do not allow entry of moisture, insects, rodents, etc.
3. Clean up an dispose all waste grain, feed and stray seeds/grains that have accumulated around the storage bins.
4. Fumigate the bin as soon as the grain is poured in and thereafter 4-5 weeks later this treatment may be repeated.
5. Inspect the grain frequently but at least one a month by taking samples. Refunigate, if an insect infestation is discovered.
6. At all times the moisture content of the grain should continue to remain low enough do that not to allow any fungal/bacterial growth.
7. Good housekeeping, is an effective sanitation programme and this is the simplest and best technology to prevent storage losses.
LARGE SCALE STORAGE
Insect control in warehouse may vary somewhat, depending on whether the grain is stored or in bags and according to the type of storage structure. The basic principles are the same in all cases. Best results are obtained by rigidly following the application of preventive measures.
These measures are not only applicable for farm storage but also for big warehouses line FCI, CWC & other agencies. For them also same recommendations that thorough cleaning of all warehouses, plus a residual spray, plus fumigation cleaning immediately after the grain is put in a storage.
At this point it ma not be out of place to mention that biological factors like insects, mites, fungi& bacteria which work in unison & not separately are responsible for tremendous storage losses which can be prevented by taking care of three ecological factors, viz. moisture content of grains; availability of oxygen in the structure (fro metabolic activity of grain, insect and micro organisms); and the development of temperature gradient resulting in moisture migration within the grain bulk.
NEW APPROACHES IN STORED GRAIN INSECT CONTROL
1. The improvements which can be thought pf for large scale storage in Indian can be the use of externally modified/controlled atmosphere storage which requires alteration of normal percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This atmosphere is insecticidal and prevents mould growth and quality deterioration of stored grain.
2. Secondly, liquid Nitrogen/Carbon-dioxide can be used to create modified atmosphere which keep the grain insect free, moulds cannot grow and grin retains its luster and quality.
3. Third, Improved methods of application of grain protectant systems which have to be adopted when we become an exporting country an entirely new concept has been developed to deal with global insect resistance problem. In this method insecticides are applied in combination thus optimizing dosage rates and control all species in a likely pest complex. This method will not allow accelerated development of resistance to insecticides as has happened with Malathion.
4. A new flow through Phosphine fumigation technology- An important new development recently introduced by the Common Wealth Stored Grain Research Laboratory in Australia (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, Canberra, Australia) is the use of Phosphine in gas form Phosphine is supplied in gas cylinders mixed with carbon dioxide acting as a carrier. The potential for this technology lies in its applicability to storage that are even less than airtight. A good technology for India (but costly for the present).
5. Biological Control: Use of insect growth regulators (synthetic juvenile hormones), found effective against Bruchids (pulse beetles), sitophilus & R. Dominica.
6. French scientists claim that they have perfected a technology as vacuum storage in small butyl rubber silos prepared at storage site allowing no entry of insects and the silos can be heaped one over the other. No roofing is required. Grain remains good for 5-6 years and doesn’t require any case and maintenance, no fumigation, no spray, etc. Good for countries keeping buffer stocks like India. The grain is dried and then fumigated prior to filling in ‘silos’. In vacuum no life can exist (but costly for the present).
7. It would be pertinent to reemphasize the point regarding the storage structures that the buildings for bigger storage and bins, etc., for the same storage should be made according to the structural requirements with no compromise on the quality of material and designs which have been described in Chapter-V of this report. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have also laid down structural designs. Some modifications for rat proofing in godown buildings mentioned in Chapter-V must be incorporated to deal with the rodent menace besides carrying out chemical controls with Zinc Phosphide and Anti-coagulants present in vogue.
8. The most important technology/input to implement the recommendations suggestions is the requirement of technical personnel from the lowest to the highest level of technically trained hierarchy. Only such persons who know the implications of grain storage need to be given charge of storage. We need an army of them to take charge of rural storage- 70% of grain with active participation of the farmers in this Himalayan task requiring Herculean efforts. It is through these people that our dream of zero storage loss can be realized.
It may not be out of place to mention that all the technologies which are mentioned are being followed in the organized sectors which store large quantities of grains but improved and advanced technologies would only be followed when:-
i) Grains are stored only for a longer period of time jus t like in exporting countries of the world viz, U.S.A., CANADA, ARGENTINA & AUSTRALIA.
ii) Mechanization, silo storage, use of inert gases, use of improved techniques of fumigation will all come up as soon as we become exporting country.
iii) The present problem of rural storage has to be dealt with all seriousness & sincerity with technologies suggested above.
ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDED TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIONS AND EXPECTED IMPACT OF RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is high time that both the Centre and state governments should think about the severity of the problem of storage losses as it is estimated that the country might be losing every year Rs. 5000 crores to 7000 crores worth of food grains due to defective storage. As a beginning the farm level storage practices. One strategy could also be that the FCI can keep the stocks with the farmers instead of purchasing the grain from them. As per the present categorization in vogue that if a farmer stores the grain without infestation then he should be given some incentive apart from normal government price. This would encourage the farmers to store the grains properly and ultimately it would lead to zero loss level and the pressure on storage space with FCI can also be reduced. As a beginning FCI can initiate this programme in a few selected villages on a pilot scale and the same can be enlarged if it is successful.
1. The first & foremost recommendation is that the Government should assume responsibility for minimizing the Grain Storage Loss at Various stages of handling & storage. An adequate organization needs to be set up at the center & in the states to take coordinated action in this direction.
2. We should go in for systems approach rather than piece meal. We have to improve upon the existing post harvest system to cut post harvest losses at farm level where about 70% grains are stored and consumed as food, feed & seed. The losses start taking place during harvesting, sy when the crop is becoming a harvest.
3. Establishment of National Grid of rural godowns as per ecological zones is a must. This will go a long way in reduction of losses in storage. For individual small farmers metal bins under this project need to be supplied because a good storage structure us the first line of defence in protecting & preserving the food grain in sound condition. Rats will not be able to damage the grain at all. And at the very outset it may be possible to save at lease 2.5% of grain. ‘
OR
Establishment of national grain board on the lines of Canadian Wheat Board / Australian Wheat Board where all the grains produced in the country belong to the Government which handles & stores scientifically.
4. ‘Save Grain Campaign’ programme needs to be strengthened, extended and storage technology should not only be taken to the door steps of the farmer but ensured that it is adopted by him. All media of mass contact should be used to spread the message of “Save the Grain” far & wide followed by Campaign team’s visit to the farmer’s house.
5. Wherever possible solar energy for drying the grain need be harnessed.
6. Sufficient emphasis be laid on grain handing & grain storage in the institutes, where agricultural engineering is taught. In villages from primary school through high school & intermediate level the subject of grain storage should be taught. The subject should also be included in the job card of extension workers. This should be a nation wide educational program.
7. arrangement for training in grain storage for the framers on war footing under the “Save Grain Campaign” should be made all over the country- in the villages at farmer’s house where 70-80% grain is stored. Back
EXPECTED IMPACT OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The recommendations made are with the idea that the grain storage4 losses suffered because of physical, biological and engineering factors are arrested by using the recommended technologies.
It will be observed that these technologies if properly used, will not allow the insects, moisture, rain, fungi & bacteria to damage the grain in storage. Needless to say that reduction of post harvest losses is a very complex undertaking. Decidedly this should tackle all stages of post harvest system where grain is likely to be damaged.
The best outcome of this project would be that the man (farmer) who is the main culprit, who does not change the attitude towards grains storage may start heeding the advice of the experts in grain storage and come out of his lethargy and indifference. We are sure that this change would happen because we are not making a radical and costly change but it is to improve traditional storage methods.
The first impact by seeing that grain which was being eaten away by insects, rodents, fungi, mites, bacteria etc. is no more meeting that fate and he is getting extra money by selling insect free and wholesome grain at a higher price. Introduction of self-reliant grain storage technology shall overcome a food grain deficit situation and stimulate progress towards self-reliance. This will also make a valuable contribution to grain processing industries by providing insect free wholesome grain. It is very interesting to know that in most of the food-deficit countries actual shortages are to the tune of 4 to 6% of the requirements, while the losses have been estimated at 10 to 20% of production. Even if we cut down 50% of the grain losses, we will save 5 to 10% of the grains. This will trigger off a chain reaction amongst the farmers who will start adopting the simple storage technology at farm level. There economic condition will start improving.
Thus by adopting improved grain storage technology more than food would be saved. The nation’s moral would boost and in the community of nations our status would enhance by becoming regular exporting/self-sufficient nation with regard to food grains. And we will not spend our foreign exchange on import of food grains. Also we will be able to maintain a bigger quantity of food grains as bufferstocks of food grains which will help in maintaining the food grain prices in the open market. Above all, the failure of monsoon can be taken care of without disturbing the price line of the food grains.
