IMPROVED GRAIN STORAGE

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IMPROVED GRAIN STORAGE
5.8
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StatementImproved storage is importantstorage
losses can be as high as 6-20

• Main reasons
• Insects/ pests
• Seeds stored before complete drying
• Moisture storage conditions

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Results of survey in DI Khan

• 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.

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• Some traditional practices reduce storage loss
• use of brumba (wild melon) repells pests
• storage in straw (reduces humidity)

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Experiments in DI Khan

• 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.

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Innovations

• 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
• In case of Binda Add the use of plastic sheet to
  seal the mouth of Binda

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Results of innovations

• Grain losses reduced to 0.3
• 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

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Based on work of VEER/ PLI, DI Khan, Pakistan