Post Harvest Management – Best Practices and Methods

Reducing post-harvest loss is critical. Great post-harvest management will help address the growing concerns around food sustainability.

Grain post harvest

What does post-harvest mean?

Post-harvest process is the stage that immediately follows the harvest. The final quantity and quality of the product depends on it.

Appropriate pre-harvest practices and harvesting the crop at the right time using adequate farming equipment are also important in order to optimize the overall post-harvest output. Additionally, post-harvest management includes various steps such as:

  • Drying: This decreases the moisture levels to ensure safe storage and prevents grain germination. It also reduces the risk of fungal attack and contamination by aflatoxin, maximizing the quality of crops retained.
  • Threshing/Shelling: Threshing or shelling of grains helps to reduce the required storage capacity and minimize the susceptibility of the grain to pests.
  • Cleaning/Winnowing: This involves removing any foreign matter from the grain, such as leaf, stalk, or empty seeds, in order to optimize its market value.
  • Storage: Protecting the grain from climatic changes and contamination by insects and pests is crucial. Various post-harvest grain storage methods can accomplish this.
  • Transport: Grains sold to buyers are transported to warehouses or markets where they are made available to the common folk.

Minimize post-harvest losses and preserve produce by correctly following the steps above.

How does grain storage play a major role?

Agricultural products are stored before they are made available and accessible to the public. The storage process keeps grains, whether in bags or in bulk, in a storage structure. The structure, designed to protect the stored product for a short or long period, hosts the grains awaiting movement to other locations.

Grain storage occurs at three levels: producer’s level, trader’s level, and urban organization storage level. Storing it is necessary for the following reasons:

  • To provide a uniform supply of food throughout the year. Grains are produced seasonally while consumption is a constant.
  • To provide reserve for contingencies such as flood, drought, pandemics, and other calamities.
  • To speculate a good price either in domestic or in export markets.

Hence storage is fundamental to the concept of food security.

What happens if grain storage is improper?

The main cause of deterioration of grain quality and decrease in grain quantity is improper storage. This can occur due to:

  • Weather changes: Changes in climatic conditions such as rain, humidity, increased dampness, moisture, heat can harm the grain quality and seed viability.
  • Infestation: Unfavorable environmental conditions can also make the grain more vulnerable to infestation by insects, pests, and molds.
Incorrect Grain Storage resulting in post harvest losses
Incorrect Grain Storage resulting in post harvest losses

In fact, rodents and birds often attack incorrectly stored grains. They can not only feed on the grain, but also contaminate it with their urine, droppings, hair/feathers.

These problems caused due to improper storage result in post harvest losses in the form of:

  • Weight loss of the agricultural produce.
  • The grain is prone to rancidity or it may undergo sprouting, over-ripening if not stored properly.
  • There is loss in quality and market value of the produce.
  • Furthermore, the nutritive value of the grain also decreases.

What are the correct post harvest storage methods?

Proper grain storage methods are the key to reducing post harvest losses.

The quantity of produce and the duration of storage are important to choose the proper storage method.

  • Storage in bags: Storing grains in bags is convenient for short-term storage when grains are intended to be moved early. A short term storage duration requires few measures against insects.
  • Loose storage: Large quantities of grains can be stored in loose / bulk storage.

Requirements for correct storage are:

  • A good storage site: Ventilate and keep the site cool. Have a strong roof to protect from high winds and rain. Ideally, raise the site off the ground to prevent ground water soaking into the stored grains.
  • Produce in suitable condition: Ensure that the crop going into the store is in good condition, cleaned and well dried. It is also necessary to store the grain at the right moisture content.
  • Intake of grain is orderly and controlled: Maintain the air-tight barrier each time the storage unit is opened and closed.
  • Quality maintenance ensured: Keep stored grains in the shade to protect them from rodents and birds.
  • Security against theft and loss: Keep the storage area locked in order to limit access.
  • Any loss is identifiable and accountable: Regularly inspect the store to maintain the condition of crops throughout the storage period.

Adherence to these requirements helps to know the quantity stored at any given time, decrease the grain loss during storage, and quickly recognize the causal agents of losses and accordingly control them.

Hermetic storage

Hermetic Bags by Save Grain Bags
Hermetic Bags by Save Grain Bags

A post harvest storage technology, Hermetic storage protects grain by creating an oxygen-deficient and carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere that is incompatible with the survival or breeding of pests. It creates an airtight and moisture-tight barrier, preserving the agricultural products in their optimal form.

SaveGrain Bags offers this post harvest technology in the form of hermetic storage bags, for storing dry agricultural produce weighing 500 grams to 100 kgs. It helps to reduce food loss, increase the overall availability of food while maximizing the farmers’ profits.

To know more about our hermetic storage bags, click here.

Recommended Posts