5.8 Improved Grain Storage

1. 5.8 Improved Grain Storage Case from DI Khan, Pakistan

2. 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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Discussion: scope for improvement in grain storage in Ethiopia?

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