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While fulfilling the food demand of an increasing population remains a major global concern, more than one-third of food is lost or wasted in postharvest operations. Reducing the postharvest losses, especially in developing countries, could be a sustainable solution to increase food availability, reduce pressure on natural resources, eliminate hunger and improve farmers’ livelihoods. Cereal grains are the basis of staple food in most of the developing nations, and account for the maximum postharvest losses on a calorific basis among all agricultural commodities. As much as 50%–60% cereal grains can be lost during the storage stage due only to the lack of technical inefficiency. Use of scientific storage methods can reduce these losses to as low as 1%–2%.

--  Reducing Post Harvest Losses, Foods, 2017

Postharvest losses can be extensively avoided. A survey of farmers showed that for 44 per cent of respondents the avoidance of grain losses has been the most positive change brought about by the introduction of silos. The use of silos has helped to increase food security by 30–35 days per year.

The owner of a silo can save more or earn more. Immediately after the harvest, when supply is greatest in local markets as well as in the cities, the price for maize is at its lowest. However, anyone who can safely store the maize for a few months prior to selling can count on a higher price, or conversely on making a saving by not having to buy when the market price is high. At the time of the harvest, between November and February, about 80 per cent of farmers sell their maize rather than storing it in a silo. In the critical period before the next harvest, between March and July, the situation is almost reversed, with 73 per cent selling only maize stored in the silo.

---   RURAL21



  1. 1986-06-19 How Can We Keep Animals From Eating Tree Seedlings When Farmers Plant Leucaena? When Crab Burrows Cause Washout Of Canals Handy Rule Of Thumb For Seed Storage Conditions More On Use Of Oil To Control Insect Pests In Stored Grain Roy Danforth Reports Successful Method Of Taking Fruit Trees From...
  2. 2011-07-20 Bamboo for Fences New Use for Moringa Seeds Resource for Understanding Land and Tree Tenure Issues Marketing Information from ATTRA Tomatoes from Cuttings Metal Silos for Improved Grain Storage Avocado Trees ‘Caro Rich’ Tomato Seed for Increased Vitamin A
  3. 2020-04-20 The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe CFGB database. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Learning Outcomes –...
  4. 2011-07-20 We share many ideas in EDN for agricultural techniques that can increase crop production. Higher production translates into more food and potentially more income; this is very important, especially for farmers whose livelihood comes from a small piece of land.Another way to increase food supply...
  5. 2017-11-01 Insect pests can result in substantial losses of stored seed. In West Africa, cowpea bruchids (Callasobruchus maculatus) caused up to 100 percent damage of cowpea seeds stored for a few months (Sallam 1999). Primary pests are those that, in larval stage, feed within intact kernels. Others, such...
  6. The SDC Agriculture and Food Security Network provides a knowledge exchange platform for all development practitioners with links to the activities of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in the area of Agriculture and Food Security.Membershipis open to SDC staff and representatives...
  7. The Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) project provides a low-cost, simple, and effective technology for low-resource farmers to help them preserve their dry crops after harvest with minimal losses due to storage insects. PICS technology involves triple bagging of the grain in plastic bags....
  8. Abstract, Toxins, 2017 Fusarium fungi are common plant pathogens causing several plant diseases. The presence of these molds in plants exposes crops to toxic secondary metabolites called Fusarium mycotoxins. The most studied Fusarium mycotoxins include fumonisins, zearalenone, and trichothecenes....
  9. Abstract,Natural Resources Institute, 1995 Appropriate technologies for small-scale, on-farm grain storage in sub-Saharan Africa are reviewed and assessed in the light of the current pressures resulting from the liberalisation of grain markets. The study was based on a literature survey of recent...
  10. 2014-03-20
  11. Abstract,Advances in Crop Science and Technology, 2016 Sorghumand maize grain stored in traditionally prepared pit in Jigjiga and Awubarre districts of Ethiopian Somali region were evaluated for seven months after of underground storage. We collected data on socio-economic profile of survey...
  12. Below you will find links to theGrain Store CatalogueandtheGranary selectortraining app thatsupplyinformation and advice onsmall grain-stores (50kg to 300t). The types ofstores includedsupport the livelihoods and food security of smallholder farmers andfarmer groups andthe day to day needs of...
  13. 2019-02-12 Session: Grains, mainly maize, and pulses are staple foods for most African subsistence farmers. Post-harvest losses for these crops are estimated up to 40% in Africa. Efforts to reduce these losses include identification of post-harvest problems, how to manage the crops from field to storage....
  14. Based on thefirstandsecondphases of Kopernik’s Grain Storage Solution experiments, Kopernik found that storing grain in hermetically-sealed plastic drums at full capacity (meaning filled to the top) – and keeping them sealed (without opening the container during the storage period to take out...
  15. Cereal banks can be an effective way to tackle food insecurity. This guide contains step-by-step advice on how to set up and run a cereal bank. Cereal banks are community-based institutions that buy, store and sell basic food grains. Most cereal banks offer farmers the opportunity to store their...
  16. Tanzanian smallholder farmers spend1.35 billionhoursthreshing every year. What would it mean to save those farmers 1.2 billion hours? Mission Imara Tech's mission is toalleviate poverty and enrich the lives of smallholder farmers by empowering communities with locally made, productive-use...
  17. 1986-01-19 This book is an effort by FAO to compile an up-to-date, comprehensive text on rural structures and services in the tropics, focusing on structures for small- to medium-scale farms and, to some extent, village-scale agricultural infrastructure. The earlier edition, entitled Farm structures in...
  18. 2011-10-20 A sample of 260 farm households that were randomly selected in Katumba ward, Rungwe district, Tanzania were studied for the effects of storage methods on the quality of maize grain and household food security using qualitative and quantitative methods. Maize storage problems, amounts of maize...
  19. The Purdue Improved Storage (PICS)bag, is an airtight storage bag that provides a solution for smallholder farmers to extend the storage time for their seeds and crops. The PICS bag is a hermetic, or airtight, storage solution for smallholder farmers who suffer severe losses due to insects. The...
  20. Abstract, The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 2014 Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that contaminate various feedstuffs and agricultural crops. The contamination of food by mycotoxins can occur before production, during storage, processing, transportation or marketing of the...
  21. This book discusses grain storage problems as they are faced by small-scale farmers. It contains explanations of the sturcture of grain, the relationship between grain and moisture, the need for proper drying. One large section contains detailed, fully illustrated plans for constructing a variety...
  22. Abstract,Indian Journal Of Traditional Knowledge, 2007 Indigenous practices play a vital role in sustainable agriculture development and are unique to a given culture of society. An exhaustive survey was conducted in dry tracts of Tamil Nadu to document the indigenous storage structures used by...
  23. Abstract , Iowa State University, 2013 Maize grown by subsistence farmers is a staple food for millions of people around the world, especially in SubSaharan Africa and Central America. Following harvest and shelling, maize is subject to storage losses caused by birds, rodents, fungi, and insects....
  24. Abstract,Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, 2016 We investigated the use of insecticide-treated material and modified atmosphere storage for reducing insect damage in stored maize. Results showed that insecticide-treated netting and insecticide-treated seed bags protected grain from...
  25. The information provided in this Agrodok has been compiled from NGO reports and conversations with field workers who have been involved for a number of years in the establishment and operation of granaries. The text is based as much as possible on practical experience. 2 Copies
  26. Abstract, Foods, 2017 While fulfilling the food demand of an increasing population remains a major global concern, more than one-third of food is lost or wasted in postharvest operations. Reducing the postharvest losses, especially in developing countries, could be a sustainable solution to...
  27. More than 30 years ago, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) started a post-harvest programme in Central America named “Postcosecha”. The significant impact that was still evident long after the project end also continues to exist after the cessation of external support. The...
  28. 2013-01-20
  29. How to create an alternative, low-cost water storage cistern for irrigating small gardens How to make a minimum tillage garden How to run a Farmer Field School with your neighbors How to prevent Newcastle Disease which kills 70% of chickens annually in Africa How to create a bio-intensive deep...
  30. This video explains how to dry grains after harvest by building a low-cost High Velocity Solar Grain Dryer. Drying grain is important because it reduces the chance for mold growth in the grain, which will increase its storage life as well as ensuring that it will sell at a higher price. When you...
  31. This animation explains the best practices for bag storage of grain using a bag stacking technique. Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) is a university based program. SAWBO transforms extension information on relevant topics such as agriculture, disease and women's empowerment, into 2D,...
  32. This video explains how to dry grains after harvest by using the High Velocity Solar Grain Dryer. Drying grain is important because it reduces the chance for mold growth in the grain, which will increase its storage life as well as ensuring that it will sell at a higher price. Instructions on how...
  33. This animation explains how to store grains using best practices for bag storage. It deals with how to prepare the grain for storage, transport the bags, and how to properly store the bags. Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) is a university based program. SAWBO transforms extension...
  34. This animation shows how to use the PHL moisture meter, a new, low-cost meter for measuring grain moisture content before storage. If you properly dry your grain before storage, you will have better quality grain for seed, sale, or eating. This technique will minimize grain losses and earn you...
  35. The POSTCOSECHA program was developed by SDC in the 1980ies in Honduras and scaled up to Central Amercia. The program ended in 2003, but its post-harvest strategy keeps flourishing today. The main technology element of the POSTCOSECHA program are locally produced metal silos to protect and store...
  36. Video demonstrating step by step how to build a metal silo for grain storage and describing its use and impact on food security in Central America FAO-LAC with the support of Swiss Cooperation and Ministry of Natural Resource Honduras present in this video the technology of the household metallic...
  37. FAO-LAC with the support of Swiss Cooperation and Ministry of Natural Resource Honduras present in this video the technology of the household metallic silos to prevent postharvest losses and its impact on food security in Central America. Likewise the use of this technology and describe step by...
  38. FAO-LAC with the support of Swiss Cooperation and Ministry of Natural Resource Honduras present in this video the technology of the household metallic silos to prevent postharvest losses and its impact on food security in Central America. Likewise the use of this technology and describe step by...
  39. FAO-LAC with the support of Swiss Cooperation and Ministry of Natural Resource Honduras present in this video the technology of the household metallic silos to prevent postharvest losses and its impact on food security in Central America. Likewise the use of this technology and describe step by...
  40. FAO-LAC with the support of Swiss Cooperation and Ministry of Natural Resource Honduras present in this video the technology of the household metallic silos to prevent postharvest losses and its impact on food security in Central America. Likewise the use of this technology and describe step by...
  41. Access Agriculture Video Pre-dry your maize before shelling it. Winnow the maize on a tarpaulin and sort it. Dry your maize under a hot sun on a tarpaulin, and turn it over regularly. Before storing the grain, measure the moisture level by checking the sound produced by the grain. Let the grain...
  42. Access Agriculture Training Video Apart from the improved mud granary, you can also use metal silos or bags recommended for storing maize. You can also use drums, or if you do not have any of these, use regular bags, but you should add a conservation agent, as regular bags are not airtight. ...
  43. Access Agriculture Video Storing and managing stock in a warehouse involves three important steps. We should first prepare the warehouse, then store your products on pallets and third, follow and manage the stock in the warehouse. Available languages: Arabic Bambara Chichewa / Nyanja Dendi...
  44. 2015-01-20 The Technical manual for the construction and use of family-sized metal silos to store cereals and grain legumes was produced in the Division of Rural Infrastructure and Agro-industries (AGS) of FAO as a significant technical contribution to preventing losses in the post-harvest phase of grains...
  45. 2005-01-20 When you are gathering all the tools and materials you need to build the first silo, you may not find everything on the list. Be resourceful. If you can’t find certain tools, ask the hardware dealer to help you. Maybe something else will work. Ask other metal workers or jewellers for advice about...
  46. Key Resource 1976-01-01 This Peace Corps book provides information on the challenges of grain storage including drying methods, insects, rodents, moisture meters, and waterproofing. No page numbers, illustrated 2 copies
  47. Access Agriculture Training Video Maize grains have to be very dry and clean before you store them. The grains will stay free of pests and diseases for a long time in a metal granary, if you store them correctly. Available languages Arabic Bambara Bangla English French Kiswahili Spanish
  48. 1980-01-01 Small Farm Grain Storage is a set of how-to manuals. Together these volumes provide a comprehensive overview of storage problems and considerations as they relate to the small farmer. The authors recommend the volumes be purchased as a set because the material forms an excellent and complete...
  49. 2004-09-20 Taking human beings into account Producing for the family Post-harvest fisheries Improving dairy products and market links Managing livestock by-products in Iran Improved matmuras: effective but underutilized Traditional storage structures still going strong Changing storage practices The...
  50. 2023-04-28 The quality and amount of food that will be consumed by consumers are determined by post-harvest handling, which is a critical step in the food supply chain. If not managed properly, it causes substantial food loss and compromises food security. Innovative strategies like ferrocement grain stores...