Canadian delegation displays solutions for effective grain storage

Ludhiana, March 9



To check heavy losses incurred during conventional storage of grains in India, Central Institute of Post

Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) organised an interactive session between Canadian and Indian

manufacturers to find best solutions available for the local conditions.



Notably, government estimates rotten foodgrain amounted to 70,000 tonnes in the previous

season against the total procurement of 93 million tonnes. The state-run Food Corporation of India

(FCI) and the Central Warehousing Corp (CWC) are having a capacity to store 87 million tonnes of

grain. The country is going to add 17 million tonnes of more capacity in next five year and even

this year budget has kept of substantial amount and duty free import of certain item in storage to strengthen the

capacity.

On the occasion, the Canadian counterparts gave a presentation on smart bins, portable temporary grain storage, wherein grains

could be stored in bulk without use of gunny bags. The storage is especially useful to counter the excessive

production and is easy to install anywhere. These were made of using different materials including plywood,

tarpaulins and steel.



The five member Canadian delegation included representatives from A N Scholz and Associates

Inc., AG Growth, Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, Willwood Industries, Universities of Saskatchewan

etc. Er Baldev Singh, President Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers' Association, was heading the Indian

delegation.



Speaking on the occasion, CIPHET Director Dr R.T Patil apprised the foreign delegates about prevailing

Scenario of grain storage in the country. Showing concern over heavy losses occurring due to inappropriate

storage, he said that we need solutions which suits our local conditions.



"India has great potential in mechanisation and agriculture is one of the priority sector looking

to the scarcity of manpower. Hence cooperative farming with greater mecahnisation is going to be a reality in

near future. Also agriculture can emerge as business with credible contract farming. Looking to such

opportunities many developed countries who are much ahead of us in mechanisation would like to share their

knowledge and technology base as a commercial activity. The machines developed by them might not be

adopted as such but could be improvised and adapted to suit Indian conditions and Indian agricultural impliment manufacturers can harness this opportunity," added Dr Patil .



Rob Ziola, Senior Director, Trade Development Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), said that many

modern storage solutions used at global level could help India also. "We are looking for partnership with local

industry and agriculture institutions," he added.



An interactive session was held between Canadian, Indian industry representatives and CIPHET Scientists mainly heads of divisions and project coordinators.

Head Transfer of Technology Division Dr Deepak Raj Rai and Senior Scientist Dr Devinder Dhingra coordinated this meeting.


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