Design of an Improved Low-cost Hermetic Grain Storage Structure for small-

scale Farmers in Sanchez Mira

Grain storage loss is one of the main causes of post-harvest losses for small-

scale farmers. Without having a proper structure to store to reduce the effects of

pests, molds and too much exposure to moisture which can damage the grains,

farmers are always at a losing end. Small scale farmers use conventional ways in

storing their harvest using woven sack which is not a very effective against pests

which are already present in the grains. The woven sack is not water resistant

which is one of the main reasons why rice grains are damaged and cannot be stored

for long period of time. With small scale farmers, they don’t have a spacious place

to store their harvest that is shaded enough to prevent it from getting soaked in

water when rain or calamities arrived.

Small Scale farmers valued everything that they can get on what they

harvested, that is why they find ways and means to safely secure and store their

hard-earned harvest. This loss of weight and attacks of pests are some problems

which could be prevented in the first place. Having a well-planned and structured

grain storage structure would benefit them a lot, it can help them store their harvest

longer without any worries of pests and other things that can damage it. But,

building a storage structure can be quite costly that farmers just use sacks which
can easily be damaged. Thus, designing a storage structure that is not too costly

which they can use for years is what this study aims for.

Grain storage loss is a major contributor to post-harvest losses and is one of

the main causes of food insecurity for smallholder farmers in developing countries.

Thus, the objective of this study is to design an improved hermetic grain storage

system using available materials and test the performances of improved grain

storage system in comparison to the conventional system in terms of storage dry

matter loss and the other quality metrics, including changes in moisture,

temperature and relative humidity, and visual observations.

Smallholder farmers in our country use conventional grain storage structures

and handling systems such as woven bags or sacks to store grain. However, they

are ineffective against mold and insects already present in the grain before storage.

Different chemicals are also mixed with grain to improve grain storability.

Hermetic storage systems are effective alternatives for grain storage as they have

minimal storage losses without using any chemicals. However, hermetic bags are

prone to damage and hermetic metal silos are costly to most smallholder farmers.

Thus, an ideal grain storage system for smallholder farmers should be hermetically

sealable, mechanically durable, and cost-effective compared to the conventional

storage options. Such a storage system will help reduce grain storage losses,
maintain grain quality and contribute to reduce food insecurity for smallholder

farmers.

Problem Identification and Justification

Lack of best management practices and of better technology in harvest and

postharvest operations cause huge loss of income on rice and other crops. THE

Philippines loses nearly 900,000 metric tons of rice each year between farm and

market, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). PhilRice

Deputy Executive Director Flordeliza H. Bordey said in a senate budget hearing on

Tuesday that the losses were due to mishandling and poor storage practices.(

https://www.bworldonline.com/rice-handling-storage-losses-estimated-at-nearly-

900000-mt-year/. 9/11/2018). The key constraint to improving food and nutritional

security in Africa and in the Philippines is the poor post-harvest management that

leads to rice grain dry matter loss between 16 and 36% (Tefera, 2012). In

Tanzania, the post-harvest losses are estimated at an average of US$ 20 per ton for

small farms (AFTAR, 2009). There are post-harvest losses at various stages of

supply chain. At the storage stage, the post-harvest quantitative loss is between 15

and 25 % (Abass et al., 2014); moreover, smallholder farmers lack access to capital

and are otherwise unable to invest in high quality storage facilities to combat the
storage loss. Most of them continue to store their grains in conventional ways,

thus, suffer a high storage dry matter loss.

Therefore, there is a need to reduce the storage losses as a part of combating

the overall

agriculture production losses. To address the storage losses, the researcher wants to

develop an improved hermetic grain storage structure for smallholder farmers in

Sanchez Mira.

Hermetic storage technology limits the movement of air and moisture from

the external environment to the stored grain, which results in reduced oxygen and

moisture conditions inside the storage system. This creates an unfavorable

condition for the survival and growth of insects, pests, and mold, providing an

effective control. In addition, hermetic bagging technology is easy to use, involves

low costs, and is readily available for smallholder farmers. However, the durability

of these bags is a major concern, as they are vulnerable to punctures from sharp

objects, grain, insects, and rodents while transporting or storing the grain.

Punctures in the bag can sometimes be sealed by grain, but there are also chances

for the air to enter the storage bag, significantly reducing its effectiveness for grain

storage. Self-build silos are more durable compared to hermetic bagging

technology as they are fabricated from layers of metal or plastic sheets covered

with grass and clay. However, the self-build silo is permanent and is usually
constructed for outdoor use. It cannot be moved from one place to another.

Hermetic metal silos also effectively maintain hermeticity and grain stored in them

has relatively lower losses compared to other conventional storage methods

[10,11]. However, metal silos are relatively expensive compared to other storage

techniques, so smallholder farmers would require credit or a subsidy to purchase

these structures.

Objectives

The main objective of this thesis is to design an improved hermetic grain

storage system that could store grains for longer durations without addition of any

chemicals for the small-scale farmers in Sanchez Mira.

The specific objectives are:

 Design an improved hermetic grain storage system using locally

available materials and

 Test the performances of improved grain storage system in

comparison to the conventional system in terms of storage dry

matter loss and the other quality metrics, including changes in

 moisture, temperature and relative humidity, and visual

observations.

Desirable Features of an Improved Grain Storage System

The most important feature of grain storage systems is the ability to store grain for

an extended period of time, preferably several months, with minimal loss in grain

quantity and quality. Improved storage structures appropriate for smallholder

farmers should be simple, easy to manufacture and use, and the construction

materials should be locally available. It should also ensure enough strength and

durability that it could be reused to effectively and efficiently store grain for

multiple years. The improved storage system should be designed for in-home use

because most smallholder farmers in our country like to store their grain within

their living space to ensure security. The initial costs and complexity of the

technology are major constraints to the adoption of storage systems by smallholder

farmers. Thus, the appropriate grain storage solution for these farmers should meet

the following criteria: (1) provide effective storage conditions for grain; (2)

availability in the local market; (3) ease of placing inside residential units, and (4)

ease of moving from one point to another. Such an improved grain storage system

will reduce losses and maintain quality to ensure food security.