1. The document discusses post-harvest losses of food grains in India and the need for bulk storage facilities like silos. It notes that about 8-12% of food grains are lost during post-harvest handling and storage using traditional methods. 2. It provides information on various types of silos and their components. Silos provide scientific storage and help reduce post-harvest losses by allowing for mechanical cleaning, drying, and maintaining grain quality during storage. 3. The construction and operational costs of silo storage systems are lower than traditional godown storage over the long term, as silos reduce losses, labor costs, and land requirements for

1. Dr. R. T. Patil
Director,
Central Institute of Post Harvest
Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana
Bulk Storage of Food Grains in
Production Catchments

2. Production (2009-10) &
Post Harvest Scenario
Foodgrains – 218.19 million tonnes
•Rice 89.31
•Wheat 80.98
•Jowar 6.84
•Bajra 6.46
•Maize 16.32
•Tur 2.56
•Gram 7.38
•Urad 1.29
•Moong 0.73
PH Losses in Food grain sector: 8–12%

3. Unit Operations in Post Harvest
Management Food Grains
Harvesting at Maturity
Proper threshing
Post thresher cleaning
Proper drying
Safe storage

4. Heaps of paddy rot in a rice
sheller of Sirhind.
A Tribune photograph

5. Punjab has suffered heavy losses due to the
damage of wheat stored in the open. The state lost
16,500 tonnes of wheat lying in the open between
2006–07 and 2008–09
Post Harvest Losses

6. Sacks of wheat lie under
open sky in Amritsar
The Punjab agencies are grappling with the
situation as 60 lakh tonnes of wheat purchased
last year is still lying in the open in the state.

7. • The state has a
scientific storage
capacity of 182
lakh tonnes.
• There will be
shortage of 44
lakh tonnes of
scientific storage
Of the 182 scientific storage capacity
available with the state agencies, 106 lakh
tonnes is covered and 76 lakh tonnes open
(CAP).

8. Changes in Stored Grains/Products
Chemical changes
In stored grains, changes occur in the fat, acidity,
enzymes, colour, vitamins etc..
Respiration and heating
Movement of air through the products helps to prevent
excessive temperatures by removing heat and excess
moisture.
Micro-organism
Changes take place in the amount of mold and yeast
growth in the stored product.
Insect and rodent
The population of insects is affected by the moisture,
temperature and quality of grain stored
Moisture accumulation
Movement of air through the stored product eliminates
moisture accumulation.

9. Mechanical device for detection of insects in
stored grains
As a result of the unique movement of clock-
wise and anticlock-wise, the hiding insects
frightened, scared, wander and then
screened out from the grain sample. The
device can be suitably used to detect variety
of different insects such as: grain borer, rice
weevil, red flour beetle, rusty grain beetle,
and saw-tooth grain beetle in different types
of cereals, pulses and oilseeds and similar
commodity that become infested during
storage. This device is also capable to detect
the carry over infestation from the field
harvest. The mechanical device consists of
two separate units: a set of insect detecting
boxes and another is a mechanical system to
provide the desirable motion to the set of
insect detecting boxes.

10. Mobile Agro Processing Unit Suggested for
Cleaning, Grading, Destoning of food Grains
Cost: Rs. 2.00 –3.00 Lakh
Equipment: As per requirement of the
region

11. Advantages of Bulk Storage
• Storage is essential as crops are seasonal in nature
• Safe storage in jute bags can be done for not more
than 3-4 months
• Out of total food grain production 10% is lost in
conventional storage
• Along with silos mechanized handling system also
needs to be developed
• GIC bins are being preferred by users
• Silos are one time investment and are not expensive
in comparison to godowns in long term as it reduces
cost of operation as well
• It reduces land requirement, cost of operations and
maintains grain quality

12. The Adani group has constructed a silo with a
capacity of 2 lakh tonnes, which was filled to
capacity last year. The group proposes to construct
more silos in the state.
Grain storage Silos with Mechanized
Handling System

13. Silos
The silos are the containers for storage of grain.
The silos are classified as metal silos and concrete
silos on the basis of material of construction.
Metal silos are further classified as M.S. Allweld and
Galvanized Iron Corrugated (GIC) silos. There are
various advantages of GIC silos over concrete and
M.S. Allweld Silos.
In general, there are two types of silos :
1) Flat bottom type, and
2) Hopper bottom type.
Silo Accessories :
The standard silo accessories are Grain Spreader,
Level Indicator, Aeration System, Sweep Augar,
Descharge Gate, Rotary Valve and Temperature
Monitoring System.

14. Components of Silo System
In traditional storage methods such as Godown (ware house)
and CAP the grain is stored in bags without cleaning and
drying.
In silos before grain is stored, it is mechanically cleaned, and
dirt, dust and other impurities are removed. Similarly,
incase of wet grain it is dried to certain moisture level. The
entire silo system constitutes the following :
a) Receiving platform with hoppers.
b) Grain cleaner.
c) Silos.
d) Silo Accessories
e) Grain conveying equipment.
f) Motor control centre.
g) Auto weighing and bagging system.

15. 19 states out of 28 produce food grains Uttar Pradesh tops in the ranking food
grain production ranking with a total volume of 41.7 million tones for 2006-07,
followed by Punjab at 25.2 million tones.

16. Need for Bulk Storage for Food
Security
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Leader of Green Revolution
and is a Living Legend and Father of Economic
Ecology during the convocation address stressed on
establishing ultra-modern grain storages at least in
50 locations in the country, each with a storage
capacity of a Million tones of food grains (i.e. a 50
million tones storage grid) to ensure the food
security of our country. He also cautioned that the
year 2010 is a do or die year for Indian Agriculture.

17. Silos Requirement in the Country
Farmers need silos of 1500 – 2000 ton capacity each.
Grain processors such as solvent plants, flour mills, rice
mills, dal mills, starch plants, grain based distilleries,
breweries, cattle, poultry feed plants etc. need 1000 ton
to 10000 ton capacity each.
Grain procurement agencies like FCI; Markfeds, CWC,
SWC, Adtyas etc. requirement varies from 100 ton to
10000 ton capacity each.
Therefore a study may be undertaken from above
processors/grain agencies to find out exact
requirement of silo capacities.
Design suggested 50 ton to 500 ton capacity-hopper
bottom
and 500 to 10000 ton capacity of flat bottom type silos.

18. Construction of Silo System
The cylindrical body of the silo is made of corrugated iron
panels reinforced by strong external uprights in shaped
metal sheet.
The material used for the storage silo is a steel of a high
resistance with galvanisation SENDZIMIR 350g/square
meter
The roof is made of trapezoidal elements in galvanised and
ribbed steel plate, appropriate to carry heavy loads.
If storage silo can have an air blowing system cooling the
grain and maintaining the moisture content in the safe
zone.
The silo assembly is made by using bolts of great
mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistant due to
presence of DACROMET covering.
Special elastoplastic materials and PVC washers are used
get perfect sealing of the panels and bolts.

19. Source: Dr. Sawant, 2010

20. Need to Establish Silo Manufacturing
Facility in the Country
•Collaboration with foreign silo manufacturer to design the silo
small capacity silos and silo system
•The manufacturing facility for various silo design (GIC)
•The production catchment modern storage facilities open up
big market for slios
•Silo manufacturing line includes Decoiler, straightening
machine, corrugating machine, roll forming machine,
shearing machine, one time punching machine,
presses and various tools etc. Out of these,
corrugating machine and roll forming machine (bending of
corrugated sheets) are critical.

21. Cost of Silo System Vs Godown
Fixed Cost for 1000 Mt
Silo System Rs.2370 / Mt of grain stored
Godown Rs.2702 //Mt of grain stored
Note Godown @ 6 sq.ft per tonne of grain carpet area 60000
sq.ft.+ 15% for built up area (9000 sq ft) + 10% for truck movement
=Total 76000 sq ft
S.
No
ITEM GIC SILO STORAGE
COST (in Rs.)
GODOWN STORAGE
COST (in Rs.)
A) Land 400000 1520000
B) Silos 12700000 24150000--
C) Accessories 2100000 --
D) Ancillary Equipments 6000000 --
E) Wooden Crates -- 1350000
F) Foundation 2500000 --
Total 23700000 27020000
Source: Dr. Sawant, 2010

22. Cost of Silo System Vs Godown
Source: Dr. Sawant, 2010
OPERATIONAL & MAINTENANCE COST
# ITEM GIC SILO
STORAGE
COST
(in Rs.)
MANUAL HANDING
AND GODOWN
STORAGE COST (in
Rs.)
1. Electrical
power
9,50,000 2,50,000
2. Labour 1,82,500 73,000
3. Handling 6,00,000 24,00,000
4. Maintenance 1,42,000 2,00,000
Total 1874500 30,58,000

23. Cost of Silo System Vs Godown
Source: Dr. Sawant, 2010
LOSSES
# Item (in Rs.) (in Rs.)
1. Due to moisture
reduction /
handling
2400000 7200000
2. Due to Rats,
insects, pests, fungi
deseases, pilferage
etc.
Nil 600000
Total 2400000 13200000

24. Thermax India Ltd.
D-13, MIDC Industrial Area
R D Aga Road, Chinchwad
Pune 411019
Phone : 020 - 66122100/27475941-42
B. G. Shirke Construction Technology
Pvt. Ltd
72-76, Industrial Estate, Mundhwa,
Pune 411 036.
Tel. : +91 (20) 26708100, 26870755, 756
Shri Krishana Marketing & Services
Sr. No. 24/4, Handewadi Chowck, Off
Katraj-Fursungi By Pass, Tal Haveli,
Pune - 411028, Maharashtra, India
Phone : 91-20-26898732/32932832
Sri Shanmuga Poultry Service
#9/B-3, S.K.K. Complex Mohanur Road,
Namakkal - 637001, Tamil Nadu, India
Phone : 91-4286-231980/266266
Mobile : +919443231980
Adherence Interceder
309, Sector 14, Faridabad - 121007,
Haryana, India
Phone : 91-129-2220351
Third Planet (India)
Address : E-18, Rajeev Nagar, Opp.
Sector-22, Rohini, Delhi - 110086, India
Phone : 91-11-27581391
Conceptual Equipments And
Services Pvt. Ltd.
Daffodil, Puliyankavu Road,
Karingarapulli (Po), Palakkad -
678559, Kerala, India
Phone : 91-491-2570067,
Mobile : +919846787076,
Padsons Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Managal Das Market, Akola - 444001,
Maharashtra, India
Phone : 91-724-2433660/2258099
Mobile : +919823075410
Manufacturers of Silos in India

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