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