Rice Storage Systems

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Rice Storage Systems

• Joe Rickman and Martin Gummert,
• Agricultural Engineering,
• International Rice Research Institute, Philippines

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Outline of today

• Discussion on storage
• Fill hermetic storage system
• Evaluate a seed store
• Determine density of different products
• Make small seed store
• Take grain samples and analysis for insects
• Discuss pest management in storage
• Set up some seed germination tests
• Seal grain ready for fumigation

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Rice production

• World 589 million tons
• Asia - 534 million tons
• Bag storage - 500 million tons
• (Total world cereal and pulse production 2,075
  million tons)

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Present situation

• Between 25-50 of the total grain value
  (quantityquality)is lost between harvest and
  consumption in developing countries

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Quantity Losses in Cambodia (88 on farm studies)
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Reasons for post harvest losses

• Poor product coming into storage
• Poor storage management
• Poor quality paddy poor milling techniques

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What is required of a good storage system

• Prevention of moisture re-entering the grain
  after drying
• Protection from insects, rodents and birds
• Ease of loading and unloading.
• Efficient use of space
• Ease of maintenance and management.

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Present on farm storage situation in Asia
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Traditional Bag Storage (Indonesia)
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Granary (Laos)
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Woven Basket ( Cambodia)
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Clay Pots (Bangladesh)
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Concrete Bin (Bhutan)
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Steel Bins (Bhutan)
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Bag storage (Philippines)
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Equilibrium Moisture Content (Philippines)
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Summarizing existing on farm storage situation

• Grain is stored in open systems in bags or open
  granaries
• Grain is exposed to insect,rodent and bird
  attacks
• High equilibrium moisture content gt14.0
• Grain is not always protected from rain

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Farmers Present Practices

• Sell excess immediately after harvest (indebted
  or poor storage)
• Dry grain to 10-11 before storage
• Take grain out and re-dry during storage period
• Store seed in sealed containers

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Present commercial storage situation in Asia
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Commercial bag storage system

• Open to atmosphere
• moisture uptake,
• pest problems
• Store in batches
• Clear headways and walkways
• Relatively easy to fumigate

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Commercial Bulk Storage

• Not popular in Asia
• Efficient use of space
• Easy to control pests?- sealed for fumigation
• Less problems with rodents and birds

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Commercial hermetic system

• Grain stored in bags
• Protected against moisture uptake and insects
• Rat and pig damage?
• Use as harvest management aid
• Need O2 monitoring
• Big potential in Tropical areas
• 5-300 metric tons

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Sealed Systems tested by IRRI
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Parameters evaluated

• In store atmosphere (02)
• Grain moisture content
• Seed germination
• Insects
• Grain quality
• Farmer uptake

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Storage atmosphere (0xygen level)
O2 ()
Days
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Storage atmosphere after opening
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Storage atmospherePlastic pouches (3kg)
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Moisture levels in stored grain
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Live Insect Counts (Insects/ kg)
8.4
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Germination certified seed
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On farm Storage Bangladesh(7 months)
Germination ()
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Head Rice Yields (whole kernel)
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Grain Whiteness Index
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Summary of results

• Hermetic storage
• Works for 3kg plastic bags 50ton Cubes
• Reduces insects activity (1/kg)
• Constant grain moisture content
• Increases the life of seed from 6 months to 12
  months
• Maintains milling quality,
• Protects grain from birds and rodents?
• NEXT STEP

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Adoption by farmers

• Problem
• Farmers will not share a larger storage system
• Farmers will not invest in large storage systems
• Needs to fit into existing system

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Solution- Turn 50kg bag into a hermetic system
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Characteristics needed of a storage bag

• Capacity 0.08 cubic meter (50kg)
• Low O2 permeability
• Low water vapor permeability
• High puncture strength
• High tensile strength
• Cost US 1/bag

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Plastic Liner bag

• Fits into existing system
• Reusable if not punctured
• Easily sealed
• Use for all grain crops
• Reasonable cost

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Storage at IRRI

• Seed
• Air conditioned room
• Grain
• Hermetic storage (longer than 1 month)
• Open pallets (less than 1 month)
• 50kg woven plastic bags

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Storage Hygiene

• Keep storage areas clean.
• Clean storage rooms after they are emptied
• Placing rat-traps and barriers in drying and
  storage areas. Cats deter and help control rats
  and mice
• Inspect storage room regularly to keep it vermin
  proof.
• Inspect the stored seeds once a week for signs of
  insect infestation.

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The End

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PPTW - Storage activities

• Determine density of paddy, husk, milled rice,
  bran
• Evaluate seed storage systems at IRRI
• Load and sealing 5 t hermetic storage system
• (2 groups)
• Make small seed storage system (1 per group)
• Sample seed store and set up germination test
• Sample stored grain and identify insects
• Seal grain storage system ready for fumigation

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Evaluating a seed store
Evaluating Storage Facilities