Post Harvest Profile of Wheat - Agmarknet

As per Directorate of Marketing and Inspection recent survey, the estimated total postharvest
losses at producer’s level has been 1.79 per cent (unpublished).
Loss of 7 million tonnes @ 10 per cent of wheat production is colossal, which country can
ill afford. In terms of the value, this works out to Rs.35 million by conservative estimates @ Rs.5
per kg. However, following measures should be followed to minimize the post-harvest losses;
� Immediate drying of wet grain after harvest.
� Uniform drying to avoid hot and wet spots.
� Use of proper techniques of processing to avoid losses in threshing
and winnowing by mechanical methods.
� Proper sanitation during drying and storing to avoid contamination of
grains and protection from insects, rodents and birds.
� Use of efficient and good packaging for storage and transportation.
� Use of proper scientific techniques in storage for maintaining optimum
moisture content.
� Use of pest control measures (fumigation) prior and during storage.
� Providing aeration to stored grains and stir grain bulk occasionally.
� Moving stocks in sacks to discourage pest incidence and its
multiplication.
� Proper handling of wheat with suitable transportation facilities helps in
reduction in losses at farm and market level.
3.2 Harvesting Care :
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The time of harvesting plays a vital role. The following harvesting care should be taken.
Wheat crop should be harvested, when the grains become hard.
Harvesting before maturity means low recovery of grain, higher
proportion of immature seeds, broken and poor quality and disease
prone during storage.
Delay in harvesting means shattering and spillage of grains. Its
exposure to birds, rodents and insect and pest attack.
Harvesting should be done in dry summer season.
Harvesting should be done by using proper method and improved
equipments.
Harvested wheat should be kept separately to avoid mixing of varieties.
Direct sun drying and excessive drying should be avoided.
Threshing and winnowing should be done in the fields. The grains
should be packed in sound clean gunny bags to minimize the losses
during transportation.
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