Storage is the process of keeping
grains, whether in bags or in bulk, in a storage structure designed to
protect the stored product from inclement weather and pests for a short
or long period of time to await processing or movement to other
location.
Grains are stored for either of the following reasons :
- To provide uniform supply of food throughout the year, because
grains are produced seasonally while consumption is fairly uniform
throughout the year.
- To provide reserve for contingencies such as flood, drought and
other calamities.
- To speculate on a good price either in domestic or in the export
market.
The grains are stored at three different levels, such as :
- Producer's Level
- Trader's Level
- Urban Organizational Storage Level
The methods followed for storing the grains are :
- Storage in bags
- Loose storage
Storage in bags is convenient for short term storage, where grain
is intended for very early onward movement. For short term storage, no
control measures against insects is needed. In loose/bulk storage
method, large quantity of grains can be stored in per unit volume of
space and the infestation of insects/pests is lower.
The basic requirements of a good storage practice are: a healthy,
clean, and uniformly dried grain, and a structure that will maintain a
suitable environment that will prevent pests.
