Rice Storage Systems Joe Rickman and Martin Gummert

Rice Storage Systems Joe Rickman and Martin Gummert, Agricultural Engineering, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines

Outline of today • • • Discussion on storage Fill hermetic storage system Evaluate a seed store Determine density of different products Make small seed store Take grain samples and analysis for insects Discuss pest management in storage Set up some seed germination tests Seal grain ready for fumigation

Rice production • World – 589 million tons • Asia - 534 million tons • Bag storage - 500 million tons (Total world cereal and pulse production 2, 075 million tons)

Present situation Between 25 -50% of the total grain value (quantity+quality)is lost between harvest and consumption in developing countries

Quantity Losses in Cambodia (88 on farm studies) Post-harvest stage Mean (%) Range (%) Cutting 3. 0 2. 2 – 3. 8 Transportation 3. 6 2. 0 – 5. 2 Threshing 1. 6 1. 0 – 2. 2 Drying 2. 0 1. 0 – 2. 0 Storage 10. 7 3. 5 – 18. 0 Milling TOTAL 14. 7 35. 6 7. 5 – 22. 0 17. 2 - 53. 2

Reasons for post harvest losses 1. Poor product coming into storage 2. Poor storage management 3. Poor quality paddy + poor milling techniques

What is required of a good storage system • Prevention of moisture re-entering the grain after drying • Protection from insects, rodents and birds • Ease of loading and unloading. • Efficient use of space • Ease of maintenance and management.

Present on farm storage situation in Asia

Traditional Bag Storage (Indonesia)

Granary (Laos)

Woven Basket ( Cambodia)

Clay Pots (Bangladesh)

Concrete Bin (Bhutan)

Steel Bins (Bhutan)

Bag storage (Philippines)

Months be r em ec D be r em ob er ct ov N O r em be pt Se gu st Au ly Ju ne Ju M ay ril Ap ch M ar ry ua Fe br ry nu a Ja Equilibrium Moisture Content (%) Equilibrium Moisture Content (Philippines) 17 16. 5 16 15. 5 15 14 13. 5 13 12. 5

Summarizing existing on farm storage situation • Grain is stored in open systems in bags or open granaries • Grain is exposed to insect, rodent and bird attacks • High equilibrium moisture content >14. 0 • Grain is not always protected from rain

Farmers Present Practices 1. Sell excess immediately after harvest (indebted or poor storage) 2. Dry grain to 10 -11% before storage 3. Take grain out and re-dry during storage period 4. Store seed in “sealed” containers

Present commercial storage situation in Asia

Commercial bag storage system • Open to atmosphere – moisture uptake, – pest problems • Store in batches • Clear headways and walkways • Relatively easy to fumigate

Commercial Bulk Storage • Not popular in Asia • Efficient use of space • Easy to control pests? - sealed for fumigation • Less problems with rodents and birds

Commercial hermetic system • Grain stored in bags • Protected against moisture uptake and insects • Rat and pig damage? • Use as harvest management aid • Need O 2 monitoring • Big potential in Tropical areas • 5 -300 metric tons

Sealed Systems tested by IRRI

Parameters evaluated 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. In store atmosphere (02) Grain moisture content Seed germination Insects Grain quality Farmer uptake

Storage atmosphere (0 xygen level) O 2 (%) 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Claypot 200 l drum 25 l drum 0 20 40 Days 60 80 100

Storage atmosphere after opening Oxygen concentration (%) 24 18 12 6 0 0 30 60 90 120 150 Storage time (days) 180 210 240 270

Storage atmosphere Plastic pouches (3 kg) 25 Oxygen Content (%) 20 15 Normal plastic Vacuum pouch 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 Days 50 60 70 80

Moisture levels in stored grain 15 % Moisture content 14 13 control 12 Hermetic 11 cooled 10 9 0 10 20 30 Storage period (weeks) 40 50

Live Insect Counts (Insects/ kg) Months Open Storage Hermetic (5 ton) Hermetic (small) Cold room Air conditioner (bags) 0 3. 2 8. 8 7. 4 8. 4 3 234 0 1. 6 6 114 0. 4 1. 6 0 3. 0 9 54. 4 0. 4 1. 2 0 3. 4 12 27. 2 2. 2 1. 2 0 9. 0

Germination: certified seed

On farm Storage Bangladesh (7 months) 100 80 Traditional 60 Germination (%) Hermetic 40 20 0 Farmer Farmer 1 2 3 4 5

Head Rice Yields (whole kernel) Head rice yield (%) 45 Hermetic 40 Open Storage 35 30 25 20 0 3 6 Months of storage 9 12

Grain Whiteness Index 54 52 Whiteness index 50 48 46 44 Start 3 months 42 6 months 15 months 18 months 40 Open Hermetic A/C Storage treatment Cold Room

Summary of results Hermetic storage: Works for 3 kg “plastic bags” – 50 ton Cubes Reduces insects activity (1/kg) Constant grain moisture content Increases the life of seed from 6 months to 12 months Maintains milling quality, Protects grain from birds and rodents? NEXT STEP

Adoption by farmers Problem • Farmers will not share a larger storage system • Farmers will not invest in large storage systems • Needs to fit into existing system

Solution- Turn 50 kg bag into a hermetic system

Characteristics needed of a storage bag • Capacity 0. 08 cubic meter (50 kg) • Low O 2 permeability • Low water vapor permeability • High puncture strength • High tensile strength • Cost $ US 1/bag

“Plastic” Liner bag • Fits into existing system • Reusable if not punctured • Easily sealed • Use for all grain crops • Reasonable cost

Storage at IRRI Seed • Air conditioned room Grain • Hermetic storage (longer than 1 month) • Open pallets (less than 1 month) 50 kg woven plastic bags

Storage Hygiene • Keep storage areas clean. • Clean storage rooms after they are emptied • Placing rat-traps and barriers in drying and storage areas. Cats deter and help control rats and mice • Inspect storage room regularly to keep it vermin proof. • Inspect the stored seeds once a week for signs of insect infestation.

The End •

PPTW - Storage activities • Determine density of paddy, husk, milled rice, bran • Evaluate seed storage systems at IRRI • Load and sealing 5 t hermetic storage system (2 groups) • Make small seed storage system (1 per group) • Sample seed store and set up germination test • Sample stored grain and identify insects • Seal grain storage system ready for fumigation

Evaluating a seed store Store 1 Store 2 Store 3 Grain Protection Moisture content Insects Rodents Birds In store Hygiene Storage above floor (pallets) Clearways (0. 5 m) Batch storing Clean Management strategies Store cleaning after season Bags cleaned, dipped Fumigation options