crop production

Crop productionStorage

By: pushpa and group

IndexWhat is storage?Advantages of storageDisadvantages of storageTypes of storageCommercial food storageFor emergency preparationImportance of storageLoss in quantityTips for storage of foodPrinciples of storageConclusionStorage video

What is storage?Food storage is both a traditional domestic skill and is important industrially. Food is stored by almost every human society and by many animals.

The storage of grains on large scale is done in

granaries & silos.

Advantages

The striking advantages of bulk storage systems are mentioned here.

Minimization of loss due to spillage;

Disinfestations measures are more manageable thus insect losses are minimal and no bird losses;

The quality can be maintained more easily;

Human errors can be avoided to a greater extent;

Lesser land costs and

Better utilization of the space.

DisadvantagesBasically, the following are the

constraints in adoption of bulk storage system.

Huge initial costs;

Needs modernization of entire transport system in the country

Multiplicity of varieties of grain in developing countries.

Types of storageWhen storage is for a long period

or/and in large quantity, it is referred to a bulk storage and is generally in the

form of warehouses, silos above ground or pits underground. Storage of food

grains for short periods or/and in small quantity is usually in

bags and is known as bag storage.

COMMERCIAL FOOD STORAGEGrain and beans are stored in tall grain elevator, almost always at a rail head near the point of production. The grain is shipped to a final user in hopper cars. In the former Soviet Union, where harvest was poorly controlled, grain was often irradiated at the point of production to suppress mold and insects. In the U.S., threshing and drying is performed in the field, and transport is nearly sterile and in large containers that effectively suppresses pest access, which eliminates the need for irradiation. At any given time, the U.S. usually has about two weeks worth of stored grains for the population.Fresh fruits and vegetables are sometimes packed in plastic packages and cups for fresh premium markets, or placed in large plastic tubs for sauce and soup processors. Fruits and vegetables are usually refrigerated at the earliest possible moment, and even so have a shelf life of two weeks or less.

In the United States, livestock is usually transported live, slaughtered at a major distribution point, hung and transported for two days to a week in refrigerated rail cars, and then butchered and sold locally. Before refrigerated rail cars, meat had to be transported live, and this placed its cost so high that only farmers and the wealthy could afford it every day. In Europe much meat is transported live and slaughtered close to the point of sale. In much of Africa and Asia most meat is for local populations is raised, slaughtered and eaten locally, which is believed to be much less stressful for the animals involved and minimizes meat storage needs. In Australia and New Zealand plants before being shipped overseas in freezer ships.

Continued……

For emergency preparationGuides for servings emergency conditions in many parts of the world recommend maintaining a store of essential foods; typically water, cereals, oil, dried milk, and protein rich foods such as beans, lentils, tinned meat and fish. A basic food storage calculator can be used to help determine how much of these staple foods a person would need to store in order to sustain life for one full year. In addition to storing the basic food items many people choose to supplement their food storage with frozen or preserved garden-grown fruits and vegetables and freeze-dried or canned produce. An unvarying diet of basic staple food prepared in the same manner can cause appetite exhaustion, leading to less caloric intake. Another benefit to having a basic supply of food storage in the home is for the cost savings.

IMPORTANCE OF STORAGE

Good storage facilities are important to the farmers all over the world. They help to ensure household and community food security until the next harvest and commodities for sale can be held back so farmers can avoid being forced to sell at low prices in the glut that often follows a harvest. Though considerable losses occur in the field, both before and during harvest, the greatest losses are noticed during storage.

Loss in quantityGood storage facilities are

important to the farmers all over the world. They help to ensure household and community food security until the next harvest and commodities for sale can be held back so farmers can avoid being forced to sell at low prices in the glut that often follows a harvest.Though

considerable losses occur in the field, both before and during harvest, the greatest losses are noticed during

storage.

This has been reported that up to 10 million tones of food-grains

are lost each year in India through faulty storage techniques. If

saved, it would have been more than enough to meet any world

food deficit. It has been estimated that 10 percent loss in storage

may be sufficient enough to feed 72 million people. The large stocks

of grain in storage pose various problems which are unique and

quite different from those of smaller lots. Therefore, adequate

attention must be paid in the large scale storage of food-grains. To

minimize the storage losses some practices for large scale storage of food grains has been developed.

Tips for storage of food

CONTINUED………1. The grains must be checked in

the field before harvest to make sure that the grains are free from insects and diseases.

2. The harvesting and transporting implement must be cleaned before a new crop is harvested.

3. The grains must be harvested and threshed to avoid any breakage of grains, because broken grain will not store well.

4. The threshing yards which are free from insect infestation should be used.

Continued……5. Before storage the grains should be

cleaned and graded. Unclean grain contains small amounts

of straw, weed seeds and dirt, which not only decrease the

value of food-grains but also cause the grains to deteriorate

during storage.6. No food-grains with a moisture

content higher than the safe acceptable level should be

accepted for storage. Dry the moist grain before storage because,

it respires more quickly and gives off more heat and moisture,

which encourages build of insect population and mould

growth and hot spots develop in bulk grains.7. The grains should be spread over

plastic sheets or cemented floor while drying, otherwise it will pick up the moisture

from the ground. The grains should be kept

cool and dry between the time of harvest

and storage.

Principles of storageMost developing countries are

in the tropics, often in areas of high rainfall and humidity. These conditions are ideal for the development of micro-organisms and insects which cause high levels of deterioration of crops in store. Food losses during storage are the result of biological, chemical or physical damage.

In order to reduce the amount of food grains lost, the environment in the store needs to be controlled so as to lower the possibility of:

- biological damage by insects, rodents

and microorganisms .-chemical damage through

rancidity development and flavor changes, etc.

-physical damage through crushing, breaking, etc.

Good storage thus involves controlling the factors, like temperature, moisture, light, pests and hygiene.

CONCLUSION

Storage is an important link in the entire procurement and distribution system of food grains which are produced seasonally but are consumed all the year round. It helps in reducing the seasonal fluctuations in availability and prices. Scientific storage is also essential to reduce the food grain losses.

crop production

Business

storage of grains

bag storage

storage of food grains

meat storage needs

commercial food storage

crop production storage

basic food storage calculator

quantity tips