Proper Grain storage can help in boosting food security

in reducing post-harvest losses. The main advantage of grain is their storability, which is higher and less costly compared to many other food products such as meat and dairy as well as most fruits and vegetables.

In developing countries, many households keep grain reserves to make it through the lean period between harvests while a large number of governments hold grain stocks to safeguard national food security in case of an emergency. Apart from helping guarantee the physical availability of food, grains are also stockpiled to protect against unexpected price spikes that might seriously limit people’s access to food. While it is open to debate whether grain reserves are the most efficient instrument to achieve these two objectives, available data suggest that in recent years many countries and households have opted to increase their reliance on stocks as an insurance mechanism.

Ending hunger is a key goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015. This goal notwithstanding, the prevalence of severe food insecurity of the world’s population has increased.

In fact, it is estimated that by 2040 the world’s population will reach 9 billion people. To feed such a population, food security is key. Food security is a term that describes a situation that a household has direct and daily access to food. Grains and grain-based products are critically important for world food security. They are main staple foods in practically every country and constitute essential sources of calories for large parts of the population, especially the poor.

Globally over two billion tonnes of grains are produced annually. The grains are stored at different stages of the grain distribution chain, in defined units such as bags, silos, warehouses, containers and even in piles on the ground.

Good grain quality is achieved not only with a good crop, but also with a good storage facility. Storage is needed for optimizing profitability for farmers since the harvest season is not always the best time to sell the grain and it is also important for transporting grain.

Handling, grading and packaging needs to be undertaken is a clean facility that is free of rodents, bacteria and insects. The right temperature and ventilation will ensure dry storage, so that no harmful pests can attack the harvested grain.

Although accurate estimates of post-harvest losses of grains are not available, but it can vary from 1–2% in the developed countries, where grain is stored in well managed facilities, to 20–50% in less developed countries, with poorly managed storage systems.

Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates from 2011 suggest that as much as 37 percent of food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa is lost between production and consumption. Estimates for cereals are 20.5 percent. For post-harvest handling and storage loss only, the FAO estimate is 8 percent, and the African Post-harvest Losses Information System (APHLIS) estimate is 10-12 percent.

The East African Community reported early last years that it makes huge post-harvest losses in food products annually in the range of 30% in cereals, 50% in roots & tubers, and up to 70% in fruits and vegetables.

Yet proper storage can play a major role

Proper storage of grain should first consider moisture content. Handlers should bring the moisture content of grains to the right percentage. The perfect moisture content is about 14% for maize and around 12% for rice. The right moisture content helps in inhibiting mold growth. This ensures that no harmful substances, such as aflatoxins from molds, will contaminate the stored commodities. This step is important to avoid aflatoxins from spoiling either maize or rice.

Second, the storage system must be prepared and should be suited to hold grains for the long haul. A controlled atmosphere that is airtight and moisture-tight must be guaranteed so that no damage can be brought to the grains. If air can enter, insects can thrive within the grains. Other pests may eventually come in through the airway and eat away the stored grains. This will potentially result in huge losses in quantity and quality. At the same time, airflow may bring in moisture, which may enable molds to grow and bring damage to the crops as well.

Then there is the issue of content monitoring. This step ensures that no damage is sustained by the storage system and that the grains are secured. Regularly checking that gasses, such as oxygen or carbon dioxide, levels are stable and constant goes a long way in securing the integrity, durability, and effectiveness of the storage system and the quality of its contents.