Traditional grain storage practices in India: SWOT analysis

Abstract

Storing of grains is of prime importance to avoid social unrest, seasonal variation, to provide seeds for next planting season, prevent deterioration and ensure food security in the country. India’s food grain production is around 257 million tonnes (2014–15) and an additional 150 million tonnes has to be produced by 2040 to feed almost 1.5 billion people. Thus, the campaign for higher production of foodgrain and reduction in storage losses has to continue with increased efforts. About 65–70% of total food grains produced in the country is stored at farm level in traditional structures like Bakhara, Kanaja, Kothi, Sanduka, earthern pots, and Gummi. These indigenous storage structures are suitable for storing grains in their region specific conditions. About 6.0 to 10% of total production food grains are damaged due to moisture, insects, rodents, fungi, exposure to rains, floods and negligence. According to an Indian study of grain storage practices, 41.5% of farmers are using gunny bags, 18.1% using bulk storage in rooms, 11.1% using metallic bins and remaining 30.0% stored grains in other traditional structures made up of local materials like storage baskets made exclusively of plant materials, calabashes, gourds, earthenware pots, jars, solid wall bins, underground storage, wooden/ mud structures. Here it lays the significance of improved storage structures for specific regions, which provide safer and economical means of grain storage for long durations. If a farmer stores the grain properly, he should be given some incentive apart from normal government price. This ultimately would lead to reduced losses at farmers level, which subsequently would reduce the pressure on storage space with the Food corporation of India (FCI), central and state warehousing corporations which are still running short of 45 million tonnes storage capacity. This paper discusses in detail the existing grain storage practices being followed in India and critically presents the strengths, weaknesses, opportunity and threat involved in the traditional storage system