The document discusses safety precautions for maintaining grain quality during storage. It notes that in 2004, an outbreak of aflatoxin poisoning in Kenya resulted from contaminated maize stored under damp conditions. Proper sampling, drying of grain to safe moisture levels before storage, cleaning of grain to remove impurities, fumigation to control pests, and monitoring of moisture content and temperature during storage are important practices to prevent mold growth and aflatoxin contamination. Following good storage practices can help small-scale farmers avoid economic losses from contaminated grain.
ICRISAT Research Program West and Central Africa 2016 Highlights-Good crop ma...ICRISAT
Clearing the road to higher quality groundnut production is being demonstrated in farmer participation plots that use improved varieties in combination with management practices to reduce crop contamination. It has been shown in certain regions of Mali that aflatoxin contamination in traders’ stocks can reach 120 parts per billion (ppb) and in groundnut markets up to 250 ppb, considerably higher than international standards for human consumption set at 4 ppb in the European Union and 20 ppb in the United States.
Science Forum 2013 (www.scienceforum13.org)
Breakout Session 4: Food Safety
Peter J. Cotty, University of Arizona and Ranajit Bandyopadhyay presentation
ICRISAT Research Program West and Central Africa 2016 Highlights-Good crop ma...ICRISAT
Clearing the road to higher quality groundnut production is being demonstrated in farmer participation plots that use improved varieties in combination with management practices to reduce crop contamination. It has been shown in certain regions of Mali that aflatoxin contamination in traders’ stocks can reach 120 parts per billion (ppb) and in groundnut markets up to 250 ppb, considerably higher than international standards for human consumption set at 4 ppb in the European Union and 20 ppb in the United States.
Science Forum 2013 (www.scienceforum13.org)
Breakout Session 4: Food Safety
Peter J. Cotty, University of Arizona and Ranajit Bandyopadhyay presentation
SAFETY FACTORS IN POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGYsubhashB10
In this PPT presentation you will able to learn the safety measurements or the safety factors which are to be taken during the process of using the POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES.
Occurrence of Aflatoxin Levels in Harvest and Stored Groundnut Kernels in Kad...iosrjce
The occurrence of moulds and aflatoxins in groundnut kernels are of great concern to food
processors and consumers because of their ability to cause spoilage resulting to economic losses and public
health problem such as aflatoxicosis. This study was aimed at determining the presence of Aspergillus species
and aflatoxin levels in fresh harvested and stored groundnuts kernels from non-mechanized groundnut oil
processors in parts of Kaduna State. Enumeration and identification of Aspergillus spp of groundnut kernels;
freshly harvested and stored samples were carried out using standard methods. Aflatoxin levels were
determined using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The result showed that both harvest and stored
products had significantly (P<0.05) higher number of samples containing Aspergillus flavus than Aspergillus
parasiticus. The four Aspergillus species isolated in descending order were: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus
parasiticus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus. Though only about 9.02% of the total 260 samples
screened had aflatoxin levels above the 20ppb recommended standard limit by Nigeria National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control, it was obvious that the persistent detection of moulds and total
aflatoxin in this research could be a health threat to both human and animal groundnut products (cake and oil)
consumers.
Aflatoxins
Aflasafe
Highly toxic metabolite produced by Aspergillus flavus and related fungi
Most toxic compound found in nature
The fungus infects crops and produces the toxin in the field and in stores
Maize and groundnut are most vulnerable; other crops are susceptible
Contamination possible without visible signs of the fungus
Impact on health and trade
SAFETY FACTORS IN POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGYsubhashB10
In this PPT presentation you will able to learn the safety measurements or the safety factors which are to be taken during the process of using the POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES.
Occurrence of Aflatoxin Levels in Harvest and Stored Groundnut Kernels in Kad...iosrjce
The occurrence of moulds and aflatoxins in groundnut kernels are of great concern to food
processors and consumers because of their ability to cause spoilage resulting to economic losses and public
health problem such as aflatoxicosis. This study was aimed at determining the presence of Aspergillus species
and aflatoxin levels in fresh harvested and stored groundnuts kernels from non-mechanized groundnut oil
processors in parts of Kaduna State. Enumeration and identification of Aspergillus spp of groundnut kernels;
freshly harvested and stored samples were carried out using standard methods. Aflatoxin levels were
determined using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The result showed that both harvest and stored
products had significantly (P<0.05) higher number of samples containing Aspergillus flavus than Aspergillus
parasiticus. The four Aspergillus species isolated in descending order were: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus
parasiticus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus. Though only about 9.02% of the total 260 samples
screened had aflatoxin levels above the 20ppb recommended standard limit by Nigeria National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control, it was obvious that the persistent detection of moulds and total
aflatoxin in this research could be a health threat to both human and animal groundnut products (cake and oil)
consumers.
Aflatoxins
Aflasafe
Highly toxic metabolite produced by Aspergillus flavus and related fungi
Most toxic compound found in nature
The fungus infects crops and produces the toxin in the field and in stores
Maize and groundnut are most vulnerable; other crops are susceptible
Contamination possible without visible signs of the fungus
Impact on health and trade
B4FA 2012 Nigeria: Maruca-resistant Cowpea Research in Nigeria - Muhammad Lawanb4fa
Presentation by Muhammad Lawan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Delivered at the B4FA Media Dialogue Workshop, Ibadan, Nigeria - September 2012
www.b4fa.org
Presentation given by Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International, at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Anniversary Event, February 2018.
This presentation outlines the results of a feasibility study for a Global Cryo-Collection of crops that cannot be conserved by seed. These include banana, cacao, cassava, coconut, coffee, potato and yams. These crops either don’t produce conventional seeds, like bananas, or because the seeds they do produce do not always resemble their parents, like potatoes and many other roots and tubers making it impossible to reproduce them.
Cryopreservation is safe and reliable and dependable. In cryopreservation, plants are stored in in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 °C, a temperature so cold that it effectively stops all the living processes within the plant tissue, freezing it forever in time. Plants can then be regenerated from tiny stored samples and grown into whole plants.
This study was commissioned by Bioversity International, the International Potato Center (CIP) and the Global Crop Diversity Trust with financial support from Australia, Germany and Switzerland.
Read it here:
https://www.bioversityinternational.org/e-library/publications/detail/feasibility-study-for-a-safety-back-up-cryopreservation-facility-independent-expert-report-july-2017/
"Aflasafe: a case study for aflatoxin reduction in crops "ExternalEvents
"Aflasafe: a case study for aflatoxin reduction in crops" presentation by "Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria"
48. Farmers field school (good agriculture practices) A Series of Lectures ...Mr.Allah Dad Khan
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Management of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut – ICRISAT ApproachFrancois Stepman
H Desmae
ICRISAT-WCA, Bamako, Mali
January, 2016
Roundtable of aflatoxin experts on
“Building a multi-stakeholder approach to mitigate aflatoxin contamination of food and feed”
Brussels, Monday 25th January 2016
Toxic effects of heavy metals : Lead and Arsenicsanjana502982
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Nutraceutical market, scope and growth: Herbal drug technologyLokesh Patil
As consumer awareness of health and wellness rises, the nutraceutical market—which includes goods like functional meals, drinks, and dietary supplements that provide health advantages beyond basic nutrition—is growing significantly. As healthcare expenses rise, the population ages, and people want natural and preventative health solutions more and more, this industry is increasing quickly. Further driving market expansion are product formulation innovations and the use of cutting-edge technology for customized nutrition. With its worldwide reach, the nutraceutical industry is expected to keep growing and provide significant chances for research and investment in a number of categories, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and herbal supplements.
Seminar of U.V. Spectroscopy by SAMIR PANDASAMIR PANDA
Spectroscopy is a branch of science dealing the study of interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy refers to absorption spectroscopy or reflect spectroscopy in the UV-VIS spectral region.
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is an analytical method that can measure the amount of light received by the analyte.
DERIVATION OF MODIFIED BERNOULLI EQUATION WITH VISCOUS EFFECTS AND TERMINAL V...Wasswaderrick3
In this book, we use conservation of energy techniques on a fluid element to derive the Modified Bernoulli equation of flow with viscous or friction effects. We derive the general equation of flow/ velocity and then from this we derive the Pouiselle flow equation, the transition flow equation and the turbulent flow equation. In the situations where there are no viscous effects , the equation reduces to the Bernoulli equation. From experimental results, we are able to include other terms in the Bernoulli equation. We also look at cases where pressure gradients exist. We use the Modified Bernoulli equation to derive equations of flow rate for pipes of different cross sectional areas connected together. We also extend our techniques of energy conservation to a sphere falling in a viscous medium under the effect of gravity. We demonstrate Stokes equation of terminal velocity and turbulent flow equation. We look at a way of calculating the time taken for a body to fall in a viscous medium. We also look at the general equation of terminal velocity.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE SAMPLE RETURN.Sérgio Sacani
The return of a sample of near-surface atmosphere from Mars would facilitate answers to several first-order science questions surrounding the formation and evolution of the planet. One of the important aspects of terrestrial planet formation in general is the role that primary atmospheres played in influencing the chemistry and structure of the planets and their antecedents. Studies of the martian atmosphere can be used to investigate the role of a primary atmosphere in its history. Atmosphere samples would also inform our understanding of the near-surface chemistry of the planet, and ultimately the prospects for life. High-precision isotopic analyses of constituent gases are needed to address these questions, requiring that the analyses are made on returned samples rather than in situ.
Professional air quality monitoring systems provide immediate, on-site data for analysis, compliance, and decision-making.
Monitor common gases, weather parameters, particulates.
(May 29th, 2024) Advancements in Intravital Microscopy- Insights for Preclini...Scintica Instrumentation
Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a powerful tool utilized to study cellular behavior over time and space in vivo. Much of our understanding of cell biology has been accomplished using various in vitro and ex vivo methods; however, these studies do not necessarily reflect the natural dynamics of biological processes. Unlike traditional cell culture or fixed tissue imaging, IVM allows for the ultra-fast high-resolution imaging of cellular processes over time and space and were studied in its natural environment. Real-time visualization of biological processes in the context of an intact organism helps maintain physiological relevance and provide insights into the progression of disease, response to treatments or developmental processes.
In this webinar we give an overview of advanced applications of the IVM system in preclinical research. IVIM technology is a provider of all-in-one intravital microscopy systems and solutions optimized for in vivo imaging of live animal models at sub-micron resolution. The system’s unique features and user-friendly software enables researchers to probe fast dynamic biological processes such as immune cell tracking, cell-cell interaction as well as vascularization and tumor metastasis with exceptional detail. This webinar will also give an overview of IVM being utilized in drug development, offering a view into the intricate interaction between drugs/nanoparticles and tissues in vivo and allows for the evaluation of therapeutic intervention in a variety of tissues and organs. This interdisciplinary collaboration continues to drive the advancements of novel therapeutic strategies.
Safety precaution to maintain grain quality - implementer induction training
1. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Safety Precaution to Maintain Grain
Quality
Lawrence K. Kaptoge
Adebowale Akande
Joseph Atehnkeng
Joao Augusto
Ranajit Bandyopadhyay
2. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Introduction – Health & Economic Losses
• The 2004 outbreak (317 cases reported, with 125 deaths) resulted from widespread
aflatoxin contamination of locally grown maize, which occurred during storage of the
maize under damp conditions. Aflatoxin poisoning likely will continue to be a public
health problem until culturally appropriate storage methods for dry maize are
implemented by the local population
• Evidence that this outbreak resulted from aflatoxin poisoning included:
1. High levels of aflatoxin (up to 8,000 ppb) in maize samples collected from patient
households
2. Clinical illness consistent with acute aflatoxin poisoning
3. Clustering of cases among residents of the same household and
4. Reports of deaths among animals known to have eaten the same maize as the
patients during the same period.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5334a4.htm.
3. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Introduction – Health & Economic Losses
4. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Introduction
Small-scale grain
farmers in Kenya risk
losing out from the
World Food Program
maize purchase deal
due to contamination
of grain by aflatoxin.
On Tuesday, the
government raised
the red flag after
samples from last
season’s harvest
were found to be
contaminated.
http://www.nation.co.
ke/business/Aflatoxin
-to-hurt-farmers-
prospects-/-
/996/918918/-
/f07g2c/-/index.html
5. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Introduction
• The National Cereals and Produce Board has re-opened its depots in Eastern and Coast
provinces to buy maize with aflatoxin. A major alert was issued by the government last
week in connection with 2.3 million bags of contaminated maize in the two provinces.
http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Cereals-board-moves-to-buy-bad-maize--/-
/1056/934812/-/5y2gn3/-/index.html
• Change of fortunes as sweet harvest turns suddenly sour
Tests reveal that slightly over 60 per cent of the maize tested in the larger Makueni
District is infected with the poisonous aflatoxin.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000010754/change-of-fortunes-as-sweet-
harvest-turns-suddenly-sour
6. • Highly toxic metabolite produced
by the ubiquitous Aspergillus
flavus fungus
• The fungus infects crops and
produces the toxin in the field and
in stores
• Fungus carried from field to store
• Contamination possible without
visible signs of the fungus
• Some predisposing factors:
– pre-harvest high temp and
drought stress
– wet conditions at harvest and
post-harvest periods
– insect damage
Aflatoxin Facts
7. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Out line
• Sampling.
• Moisture content
• Fumigation.
• Drying.
• Cleaning.
• Storage
• Steps for good storage practices
8. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Out line
Sampling is important for checks and testing for a range of
properties; moisture content, infestation viability, weight etc.
• Done periodically to check on the viability and general
deterioration of the crop.
1. In the field to determine MC, maturity, infestation etc.
2. On arrival at the store for MC, infestation, quantity etc
3. During storage for continual quantity monitoring
4. On despatch from store where it is weighed out and samples
retained in event of subsequent disputes
5. On arrival at the purchaser’s store for required quality attributes.
9. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Sampling
Sampling points: A 5; B 8; C 11.
10. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Aflasafe sampling – Raw Sorghum
Consignme
nt Date/
2014
# Bags
Registers
Clean Grain
(kg)
Waste
Material
(kg)
Total of
Grain (kg)
% of Grain
(kg/Bag)
09/05 310 26,265.0 1988.5 28,253.5 91.5
10/05 303 24,451.00 2,533.00 26,984.00 89.0
22/05 320 29,055.00 1,453.00 30,508.00 95.5
TOTAL 933 79,771.00 5,974.50 85,745.50 92
% of grain 93 % 7 % 100 %
11. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Aflasafe sampling – Raw Sorghum
Consignment Date/
2014
# Bags with high
fungus contamination
Total of Grain (kg)
09/05 7 655.0
10.05 4 354.0
22/05 3 285.0
TOTAL 14 1,294.0
Finished Product – every 100 packets I sample collected
13. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Fumigation
• Fumigation - method of pest control that completely fills an area with gaseous pesticides
or fumigants to suffocate or poison the pests within.
• Used for control of pests in buildings (structural fumigation), soil, grain, and produce & during
processing of goods to be imported or exported to prevent transfer of exotic organisms.
• It involves:
• Covering the area to be fumigated to create a sealed environment;
• Releasing of fumigant into the space to be fumigated;
• Holding the pace for set period while the fumigant gas percolates through the space and
acts on and kills any infestation in the product and finally
• Ventilation of the space to allow poisonous gases escape and render it safe for entry.
• If successful, the fumigated area is now safe and pest free.
• Widely used fumigants include:
o phosphine
o 1,3-dichloropropene
o chloropicrin
o methyl isocyanate
o hydrogen cyanide
o sulfuryl fluoride
o formaldehyde
o Iodoform
16. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Moisture Content
Moisture content
Definition
It is the amount of moisture (water) the seed contains.
2 methods of expressing moisture content:
1. Wet Basis
2. Dry Basis
Moisture content determination methods:
1. Direct methods determine the amount of water in the seeds
by removing them.
2. Indirect methods require the use of a meter to measure the
property of the seed that can be related to the moisture
content
17. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Moisture Content
Source: Transactions of ASABE 3330337
18. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Drying
o Physiological maturity - high moisture e.g. maize 35 %, highest quality, greatest vigour
and germination potential.
o Duration of safe storage dependent on the condition the crop was harvested and the
type of storage facility being utilized.
o Drying - Removal of high moisture to low levels for safe storage.
Drying, Aeration and Dehydration.
Drying permits a reduction of losses in storage from causes such as:
• Premature and unseasonable germination ,
• Development of moulds,
• Proliferation of insects.
Recommendation: Harvesting early MC >20%, quickly dry to safe MC <13%.
Drying may be effected by any of the following methods:
1. Field drying
2. Sun drying
3. Drying with forced artificially heated or unheated air,
4. Use of desiccants to dehumidify the air and
5. Drying with infrared light rays.
19. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Drying
Reasons for drying.
o Retard or stop the development of bacteria, fungi, mites and
insects during storage.
o Make further processing easier.
o Prevent germination.
o Produce uniformly high quality crop/seed with high vigour and
germination.
o Reduced damage in processing operations, especially in
shelling in the case of maize, to elevators and cleaners.
o Increased quality of harvested grain by reducing crop
exposure to weather.
o Harvesting can be done early and in a controlled way.
o Harvesting operations can be scheduled to obtain more
efficient use of labour and available equipment.
o Allows more time for post-harvest fieldwork.
o Reduced potential for weather and pest related field losses.
20. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Importance of drying
http://www.nation.co.ke/news/regional/Sh760m-given-to-fight-maize-poisoning-/-/1070/936196/-/h322gm/-/index.html
23. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Cleaning
• After threshing, grains (or shells, in the case of groundnuts) are contaminated by
impurities (earth, small pebbles, plant and insect waste, seed cases, etc.)
• These impurities hinder drying operations and make them longer and more costly.
• Traditional methods: Simplest cleaning method, known as winnowing, consists of
tossing the grain into the air and letting the wind carry off the lightest impurities.
• Although widespread does not eliminate all impurities.
• Air Screen Cleaning:
24. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Storage
• Storage - produce kept in condition to guarantee food security other than during
periods of agricultural production.
• Main objectives of storage:
i. At the food level – use on annual/multiannual
ii. At the agricultural level –Availability of seed for crop cycles to some
iii. At the agro-industrial level - guarantee regular and continuous supplies of raw
materials for processing industries;
iv. At the marketing level - to balance the supply and demand of agricultural
products, thereby stabilizing market prices.
• To attain above general objectives, necessary to adopt measures aimed at preserving
the quality and quantity of the stored products over time.
• Storage in bag or bulk; sealed or unsealed structure.
• Effect of environmental factors and Agents causing deterioration – microorganisms,
insects and rodents
25. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Storage
• Influences of environmental factors
• long-term storage, degradation processes must be slowed down or even
stopped.
• Degradation of grains during storage depends principally on a
combination of three factors:
o Temperature,
o Moisture,
o Oxygen content.
• Temperature and moisture
• Direct influence on the speed of development of insects and
microorganisms (moulds, yeasts and bacteria), and on the premature
and unseasonal germination of grain.
• Moisture content of stored grain, depends on the relative humidity of the
air,
• Temperature sensors in silos
26. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Storage
• Oxygen content
• Like grain, micro-organisms and insects are living organisms that need
oxygen. Storage of grain in places that are low in oxygen causes the
death of insects, cessation of development of micro-organisms, and
blockage, or slowing down, of the biochemical phenomena of grain
degradation. This favours the conservation of grain, but may affect its
germinating power. CA Storage.
• PICS bag storage - Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS2) -
http://www.entm.purdue.edu/PICS2/
28. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Agents causing deterioration of
stored grain
• The principal enemies of stored grain are micro-organisms, insects and
rodents.
• Micro-organisms
• Micro-organisms (moulds, yeasts, bacteria) are biological agents present
in the soil which, when transported by air or water, can contaminate
products before, during and after the harvest.
• Their presence and growth cause severe changes in the nutritive value
and the organoleptic features of grain (taste, smell, aspect).
• They are responsible for formation of dangerous poisons.
• Impurities and cracked or broken grains, foster the development of
micro-organisms.
• Temperature and humidity have a determining influence on the growth
rate of these degradation agents.
• On the contrary, atmospheres that are low in oxygen help check the
development of these degradation agents.
29. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Agents causing deterioration of
stored grain
Insects
• Insect infestations occur either in the field, before harvest or in storage.
• Their biological activity (waste production, respiration, etc.) compromises
the quality and commercial value of the stored grain and fosters the
development of micro-organisms.
• Insects can live and reproduce at temperatures between 15 & 35 0C.
• Low humidity slows or even stops their development, and a low supply of
oxygen rapidly kills them.
Rodents
• Rodents invade and multiply in or near storage places, where they can find
abundance of food. They also cause serious damage to packaging and
storage buildings.
• Prolonged attacks result in serious quantitative losses of stored products.
• Their filth (excrement, secretions) is responsible for decrease in quality of the
foodstuffs
• This contamination is as important from the marketing standpoint as it is for
hygiene and health. Rodents are often the vectors of serious diseases
(rabies, leptospirosis).
30. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Good Post Harvest Practices
For best storage performance:
• Clean the grain to remove chaff, weed seeds, and broken kernels
• Handle grain gently to minimize cracked and broken kernels.
• Dry to the safe storage moisture 10-12 % for cereals; 7-9% for oil seeds
• Aerate to maintain cool, uniform recommended temperature.
• Properly clean and disinfect the storage structures.
• Chose storage structure that does not permit contact/exchange with
outside humid air.
Requirements for good storage
• Provide maximum possible protection from ground moisture, rain, insect
pests, moulds, rodents, birds etc.,
• Provide the necessary facility for inspection, disinfection, loading,
unloading, cleaning and reconditioning.
• Protect grain from excessive moisture and temperature favourable to
both insect and mould development.
32. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Ideal Storage Conditions
Figure 2. Storage Risk Increases with Temperature, Moisture and Time.
33. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Steps for Good Storage Practice
Pests
Stored product pests can be managed either behaviouraly (traps ) or with
several preventive and curative measures (both chemical and non-
chemical methods).
Steps.
1. Before storage
• Check for leakage of rain water and sufficiency of drainage facilities
• Cleanliness of the facility and environment
• Pesticidal treatment – e.g. application of Actellic dust
• Security and fire fighting arrangements and
• Repairs to available equipment
2. After receipt
• Inspection for variety and soundness of quality
• Carefully inspection for infestation and when present, type and extent of
infestation,
• Inspection whether grain has excess moisture, any grain rendered wet or
damaged to be segregated and salvaged with facilities available and
check the weight received
34. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium Date: 19-June-2014
Steps for Good Storage Practice
3. During storage
• Maintenance of cleanliness
• Ensuring aeration where necessary
• Check for leakage after rains
• Inspection for insects, rats and mites at fortnightly intervals
• Watch for advancement in deterioration, if any,
• Arrangement for segregation, salvage and processing, wherever,
damage owing to leakage of water and other causes might have
taken place.