Types Of Farm Storage – Meaning, Methods & Importance

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Hello, welcome to this hall on the topic, Farm Storage and types of farm storage.

Table Of Contents

  1. Meaning of storage
  2. Importance of farm storage
  3. Reasons For farm storage
  4. Methods of farm storage.
  5. Types of farm storage
  6. Losses in farm storage and solutions
  7. Problems of farm storage.
  8. Revision Questions.

Meaning Of Storage: Storage is an important part of Farming. This is because, not all products or produce harvested on the farm are used up or sold out immediately. Also, other materials on the farm must be kept to be used when needed. Storage is therefore, the keeping of Farm produce or products for use in the future.

IMPORTANCE AND REASONS FOR STORAGE

1. To prevent losses of Farm produce which might be due to pest, weather condition or thieves.

2. To keep certain crop produce before they are processed, used, consume or sold.

3. To store seeds or tubers for subsequent planting.

4. Storage of fertilizers, and other chemicals as well as livestock feeds, equipment and other farm tools and equipments to avoid damage.

5. To ensure even and regular supply of Farm products throughout the year.

6. Farmers store Farm products in order to sell them when prices are high in period of scarcity.

7. Temporary storage is done by farmers so as to make the transportation of Farm products from area of production to the area of consuming market easy.

METHODS AND TYPES OF FARM STORAGE

There are different types of farm Storage and methods in the farm, The methods adopted depend on:

  • The produce or materials to be stored
  • The moisture content of the produce.
  • The duration of storage, that is, whether for a short time or a long time.

The following are the methods and types of farm Storage in storing farm products

A. BARNS

These are used for storing yam tubers. The method involves the tying of yam tubers with strong twine to small vertical poles, which are supported by strong horizontal poles also tied to solid sticks. Shade is needed over the barn to prevent the tubers from excessive drying.

Advantages of the Barn

  1. It is cheap to construct as Forest woods and ropes can easily be obtained especially in the high forest
  2. The yam tubers do not get rotten quickly because they are raised from the ground.
  3. It is easy to detect any tuber that is going bad.
  4. It can be used safeguard yam tubers from being eaten by mammalian pest, example; rodents and insect pest (example, yam beetle)

Disadvantages of Barn

  1. The method is laborous.
  2. Yam tubers are affected by weather conditions. For example tubers become dehydrated after some time.

B. BOXES AND UNDERGROUND PITS OR TRENCHES

These are used for storing cassava tubers. Yam tubers can also be stored for a short time in underground pit immediately after harvest. Underground pit is most common for storing cassava tubers. Under this method, layers of palm fronds are laid at the bottom of the pit. Then one or two layers of cassava tubers which must be harvested without bruise on top of the fronds. Another layer of frond is laid and tubers arrange on top. This procedure is followed until the pit is filled or the tubers to be stored are finished. The top is finally covered with a layer of palm fronds and about 10cm thick of soil.

The use of boxes has the same procedure, except that moist saw dust is used in place of Palm fronds. The moist saw dust is place round, and on top of the two bars and the tubers are also arranged in layers.

Advantages Of Boxes and Underground Trenches

  1. It can be used to store cassava tubers up to six weeks
  2. The method is cheap and not too laborious
  3. If boxes are used, they can be transported.

Disadvantages of Underground Pit And Boxes

  1. Cassava tubers may get rotten if not properly stored.
  2. it cannot keep tubers very long time.

C. SILOS METHODS

They are used for storing dry Grains such as maize, Guinea corn and rice. They are made of cement, meta or aluminum and are usually tall, round, looking like towers.

Advantages of Silos Method

  1. They protects the products from insects and rodents.
  2. They can accommodate large quantities of grains.
  3. They can last for a very long time.
  4. because they are air tights, fumigants can be safely used to protect the grains.

Disadvantages of Silos Method

  1. Silos are very expensive to construct.
  2. Grains could be mould if not dry properly
  3. They are not movable.

D. CRIBS METHODS

These Types of Farm storage are also used to store maize, particularly dried unshelled cobs which have been dehusked. Cribs consists of side pole covered by wire mesh or lined closely with split bamboos. The floor is raised from the ground while the top is roofed with thatch or zinc.

Advantages of Crib

  1. It is cheap and easy to use.
  2. The method can keep maize for a long time.
  3. Grains are protected from rodent and birds.

Disadvantages of Crib

  1. It cannot accommodate large quantities at a time.
  2. Does not protect the grains from insects or weeviles.

E. BAGS OR SACKS

These include jute and hesian bags as well as polythene bags. They are used for storing products such as Garri, melon, rice, and other grains. They can be kept in rooms or store while raised from the ground.

Advantages of bags and sacks

  1. They are simple and are very cheap to use.
  2. Different sizes are available for use for different quantities of products.
  3. They can be used for a wide variety of products.
  4. They make transportation of product from one place to another easy.

Disadvantages

  1. They are not solid enough to protect products from rat and insects.
  2. They required good rooms or store for safe keeping of products.

F. REFRIGERATOR AND COLD ROOMS

These are used for fresh perishable products such as fruits, vegetables, fish, tomatoes, etc.

Advantages: They are very expensive and can keep the products in good condition for a long time if there is power supply.

Disadvantages

  1. They are expensive, very expensive to acquire.
  2. They also require constant supply of power to function.

G. SHELVES METHOD

Shelves are one of the types of farm Storage, Shelves are used for yam tubers and farm tools. And can be made of sawn wood or split bamboos. They are not expensive to construct. However, shelves may be damaged by termite or other insects if not protected.

Other Methods of Farm storage includes:

1. Rumbus for storing grains especially in the northern part of the country or the world.

2. Bins for storing grains; Garri, flower, etc.

3. Cans and tins are also used for grains and seeds.

4. Roofs for unshelled maize with husks which are used to hang the Maize cobs and then smoke from below.

5. Basket for fruits and kola nuts.

LOSSES IN FARM STORAGE

The losses that occur in storage are caused by several factors, these factors can be categorized under:

1. LOSSES IN THE FIELD:

  • Unfavorable weather conditions: This include too much sunshine or rain, high or low temperature, etc. Weather problem can be reduced by providing roofs over stored product in the field.
  • Pests: These pest include insects, rodent and birds. Losses due to pest can be reduced by protecting stored product against insects and rodent through the use of solid materials that are insects and rodent proof.
  • Man: Thieves may enter into the farm to remove stored products. Providing solid fence around the farm may reduce this problem also.

2. LOSSES IN THE STORE

  • Improper drying: This leads to moulding of grains.
  • Poor condition of store: Leakages on the roofs, cracks on the walls, poor ventilation and dampness can lead to loss of stored products.
  • Insects weevils and rats: These destroy grains in the store.
  • Fire hazards: fire outbreak destroys stored product such as yam tuber in the barn.
  • Thieves: Thieves may break into store and steal the products.

The problems enumerated above can be reduced by drying grains properly before storage, using well constructed storage structures and formigating store against insects. Rat poisons may be used to kill rats why solid doors and locks should be used to prevent thieves.

HOW TO REDUCE STORAGE LOSSES

  1. Use good quality materials in the construction of storage structures or buildings
  2. Clean and disinfect stores before use.
  3. Ensure that farm products are free from pests and disease organisms before storage.
  4. All storage containers such as bags, pots, bottles and others should be dried and cleaned before they are used.
  5. Pests and disease outbreak in store should be controlled with appropriate chemicals.

PROBLEMS OF STORAGE

The following are the problems associated with the storage of Farm products:

1. HIGH COST OF CONSTRUCTION: Some of the method of storing Farm produce required high cost of construction and maintenance. Since most of our farmers are poor, they cannot adopt this methods, for example silo and cold rooms storage are very expensive to construct.

2. THE NATURE OF PRODUCE: For some Farm produce, storage is very difficult because of their high level of perishability. Example are vegetables, fruits, and animal products.

3. BULKY CROP PRODUCTION: Some crop products are Bulky hence their storage becomes difficult. A lot of time and labour is spent in constructing the storage facilities that can accommodate them. Example is yam tubers.

4. EFFECTS OF CLIMATE: The nature of our tropical environment makes Farm storage difficult. Too much sun causes excessive drying and too much rain or high humidity causes moulding and rottening.

5. THE CONTROL OF INSECTS PESTS AND RATS: Insects such as the weevil causes serious damage to grains like maize, beans and rice. This activities of rats is a serious problem because they destroys stored products and storage materials.

Precautions to be Taken Before Grains are Stored

In the storage of grains, care must be taken to ensure that grains will store well without going bad and losing the viability and nutritive value. The following precautions will help to ensure good storage for grains:

  • Harvest the grains immediately they are ready for harvest. Avoid living crops in the field for a long time when they are already due for harvesting. This will help to reduce destruction caused by rain and pests.
  • Dry properly before storing.
  • construct store with concrete floor and metal roof. Store should be insects and rat proof.
  • Provide ventilation in the store.
  • Fumigate store after removing old stock and before bringing in new stock.
  • Allow space in between grain bags and between bags and the walls.
  • Provide raised platforms for the grain bags. Bags should not lie on the ground or floor.

Revision Questions

  1. What is farm storage?
  2. Outline five importance of Farm storage.
  3. Discuss four methods of farm storage.
  4. List and explain the problems of farm storage.
  5. Briefly explain the five types of farm storage
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