RA 00048.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

most developing countries, farmers are forced to
sell their crops at the time of harvest because
they lack the facilities for drying and storage.
Sorghum and millet in head are usually dried on
platforms of various sizes supported by a wooden
framework raised 3 - 4 feet off the ground, with
heads piled to various depths. Rough rice and
other threshed crops are spread on the mat for
sun drying. The drying methods used on the farm
in developing countries are, in general, unsound
except for economic consideration. Considerable
quantities of grains can be saved and preserved if
a simple, economic drying method is available
when sun drying cannot be accomplished.
The main causes of grain damage and losses
are the improper and inadequate grain handling,
drying, and storage methods employed on the
farms. Reduction of losses through improved
facilities has been used as justification for the new
facilities. However, new facilities in themselves
will not prevent losses. An equally important
aspect of safe grain storage is to employ good
management practices. These include examining
grains periodically for signs of heating, insects,
mold, and rodents; good housekeeping and sanitation
in and around the premises; cleaning of grain;
maintaining uniform moisture of grain; and chemical
pest control measures. However, such
practices are not well followed on farms because
of a lack of understanding of grain storage
fundamentals by farmers. On very rare occasions,
chemical pest control measures are used. Other
pest control measures used occasionally by farmers
include ashes, smoke from cooking fires, rat
guards made of tin cans, and cats for rodent
control. In spite of the fact that grains are stored
under adverse conditions for proper grain preservation,
individual farmers in developing countries
are taking reasonably good care of grain during
storage because they need this food supply until
the next harvest.
In addition to the problems mentioned above,
the first links in the movement of grain off the
farm into major marketing channels, "first collection
points", are often missing in developing
countries. The existence of poor postharvest grain
facilities at the farm level is perhaps not the main
drawback, but rather the lack of development of a
marketing system, i.e., roads, transport facilities
grading systems, market news, etc. Other problems
that exist in developing countries are the
lack of technical personnel familiar with postharvest
grain technology, and the very sporadic
existence of government organizations or other
institutions responsible for the development of
improved on-farm postharvest systems.
With a very few exceptions, there exist virtually
no formal programs or concerted efforts by
governments of the developing countries for
developing improved postharvest grain systems.
However, it is encouraging to note the recent
establishment of the Southeast Asia Cooperative
Postharvest Research and Development Program
(SEARCA) by the five ASEAN countries. This
program is administered by high level administrators
from each of the five countries and is
responsible for formulating improved postharvest
grain systems for Southeast Asia. The SEARCA
technical team is supported by various donor
agencies (i.e., IDRC, USAID, RTI, CSIRO. etc.).
In addition, there exists the Group for Assistance
on Systems relating to Grain After Harvest
(GASGA). GASGA members are:
The Food and Agriculture Organization, UN
(FAO).
L' Institute de Recherches Agronomiques Tropicales,
France (IRAT).
The International Development Research Centre,
Canada (IDRC).
The Food and Feed Grain Institute, Kansas
State University, USA (FFGI).
The Tropical Products Institute, England (TPI).
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,
Nigeria (IITA).
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit,
Germany (GTZ).
Koninklijk Institute voor de Tropen, Netherlands
(RTI).
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organization, Australia (CSIRO).
Each GASGA member institution is actively
involved in technical training and conferences, and
appropriate technology development for postharvest
grain systems in developing countries. Under
a cooperative agreement between the Food and
Feed Grain Institute, FFGI, Kansas State University,
and USAID/Washington, FFGI has been providing
technical assistance on grain storage,
drying, processing, marketing, and agri-business
development for many developing countries.
Suggestions and
Recommendations
Interest and concern for these postharvest prob-
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