EXPERTS PROVIDE EASY TIPS FOR HOUSEHOLD GRAIN STORAGE

LUDHIANA, JUNE 27:-----



"Food grains constitute the bulk of diet of both rural and urban population. There is a need to grow more and minimize grain losses to meet the requirements of the growing population," said the home scientists of the Department of Family Resource Management (FRM) of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) while imparting tips for grain storage practices. Storage of grains at domestic level is the major responsibility of homemakers, they added, saying that it has been observed in the past that huge quantity of stored grains are lost at home due to faulty grain storage practices and structures.



Dr Muninder Sidhu, Head of FRM, said that the place selected for storage should be clean, dry, cool, dark, well-ventilated and free from rodents and insects. The grains intended for domestic storage should be checked for spoilage and infestation before putting them in clean and dry containers/bags for storage. She told that periodic inspection of the stored grains, generally, reduces the chances of spoilage. Patches of white powdery material on the stored grains are indication of the presence of insects whereas the presence of rodents can be detected by their excreta or tell-tale holes made in the bags, she added.



Referring to the storage containers, Dr Sharanbir Bal emphasised that they should be clean, washed and dried to control insects and pests before grain storage. After storing the grains, fumigation with appropriate fumigants such as Ethylene dibromide and Aluminium phosphate, are effective in eliminating the insects, she told. The rodent population can be controlled by keeping small pieces of baits at different places likely to be visited by rats. She added that the bait may be ready-made preparation available in the market or may be prepared at home by thoroughly mixing flour (cereals and pulses), sugar or jaggery with some edible oil and Zinc phosphide in the right proportion.



Advising that jute bags are not ideal for storing grains, Dr Shivani Sharma stressed on using plastic layered jute bags. Spray these bags with Malathion in the ratio of 1:100 with water. She suggested, "If the old bags are to be used, then these should be washed in boiling water and dried in bright sunlight. Mouth of the bags should be tightly stitched after filling with clean, insect free, cool and fully dried grains. Bags should be stacked 4 to 6 cm above the floor on wooden racks to prevent moisture penetration through floor."
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